THE 



LIFE AND TRAVELS 



OF 



JOHN W. BEAR, 

"The Buckeye Blacksmith." 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



\ 



'^ Or Cq^.:: ,. 
•GOPVRIGHT^-' 



BALTIMORE : 

0. BINSWANGER & CO., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 
1875. 



CHAPTER I. 



I WAS born in the year 1800, in Frederick County, 
Maryland, near New Market, of poor but respecta- 
ble parents, and was the eldest son. At the early age 
of ten years I was put out to service with an old gen- 
tleman by the name of Hagan, who kept a tavern and 
had several grown sons and a number of slaves; so I 
was at once deprived of all moral influence. It would 
be folly for me to describe a country tavern in those 
days ; suffice to say that all the old bloats of the neigh- 
borhood would gather there on Saturday and Public 
days to run horses, fight chickens, drink bad whisky 
and black each others eyes. Many were the knock 
downs and bloody noses I saw in the three or four years 
I lived there. You can well imagine that my moral 
training was very poor, as I was only a lacky boy for 
any who chose to avail themselves of my services, and 
many was the sound flogging I got for not coming up to 
time* 

In the fall of the year when election time came on 
it was the habit of wealthy politicians to get all the 
poor white voters they could a day or two before elec- 
tion and furnish them rooms in the upper part of their 
houses and supply them with plenty of the best the 
market could aflbrd, and plenty of whisky, and cards 
to play with, and keep them there until the morning 
of the election, (this they called cooping,) and then 



—10— 

men and measures they knew nothing about, that I 
made up my mind that if ever I became a man that I 
would do my own thinking and voting, so I determined 
to take Mr. Clay's advice and go to a free country where 
I could improve my mind and as he said become a 
man. I said nothing about the matter to any person, 
but intended the following summer when the weather 
got warm to bid farewell to my native land. So one 
cold Sunday in March i went home to see my mother, 
when she gave me a new pair of stockings that she had 
knit for herself but were too small for her, and she also 
gave me a nice apple. I went home to Hagan's and 
hid my apple in the barn intending to give it to a young 
girl of my acquaintance the next day, but on Monday 
morning before day one of the young Hagans went 
with me to the barn to see that I fed the horses right, 
when I showed him the apple; he took it away from me 
and began to eat it. I commenced fighting him for it 
when he slapped me in the mouth until the blood started 
when I saw the blood, it at once kindled the fire of in- 
dignation in my bosom and I determined to have re- 
venge, so I seized a flail (an article used for thrashing 
out grain) and swinging it around at him struck him 
on the head just above the ear, and laid him out, as I 
thought dead; at any rate he stopped eating my apple. 
I felt of his face and found him laying quite still; sup- 
posing him dead I thought now is the time for me to 
leave, so I went quietly to the house, got my new stock- 
ings and a shirt that I had and left by the back door, 
as I supposed never to return. This was my first expe- 
rience in pugilistic affairs. I had often been told that 
if a perteou committed any crime and run away from 
his master and could avoid detection for a year and a 
day he would de declared free. Now the question 
with me was how could I get away, for I had but seven- 
teen cents to travel on, and it w^as cold weather. I had 
many fears that I should freeze or be caught, but go I 
must and go I did. There was a stream of water close 



—11— 

by, it was frozen over but not sufficient to bear rae — 
I waded through, cold as it was and made for the Sugar 
Loaf* Mountains. It was a fearful undertaking for a 
boy not fifteen years old, to undertake such a hazard- 
ous journey all alone, without money, education or 
friends to protect me; but here I was in a cold moun- 
tain at daylight in the morning, probably a murderer, 
and I so young. One thought consoled me, he had 
struck me first, and I had a right though poor boy as 
1 was to take my own part. I had no knowledge of 
the country, or where to find freedom, which was a 
great drawback to me. I had never read a newspaper 
or book and only knew what little I had gleaned from 
the conversation of those who had occasionally con- 
versed in my presence, I knew where the Potomac 
river was, so I made for it, and when I got there the 
trouble was to cross; it was frozen over, but would the 
ice bear me; if I fell through I should be drowned. 
But as luck had it there was no current at that place 
in the river, so the ice was strong enough to bear me, 
so after great anxiety and caution, with the aid of a 
small rail to hold me up if I fell through the ice, I 
succeeded in safely making my way across. 

I must now take a look back at home and see what 
is going on there. As soon as matters became known 
at the hotel that there had been a fight between me 
and young Hagan and that I was missing, they sent a 
messenger to my mother. After hearing the story 
that we had been fighting and that the barn floor was 
pretty well smeared with blood, and I was not to be 
found she became very much alarmed and at once 
caused a thorough search to be made; they dragged 
every spot in the creek where the ice was broken and 
also searched several old wells in the neighborhood and 
in fact every place where a person could be concealed, 
supposing of course that Hagan had murdered and con- 
cealed rae. Finally when all hope of ever finding me 
was gone they gave me up as lost. They even went a 



—12— 

long distance to consult a fortune teller about me; she 
^ told them that I was dead, and they believed her, (what 
an old liar she was.) Almost every person through the 
whole country thought that young Hagau had made 
way with me. Hagan's mother however always said 
that I would sometime turn up all right, which the 
reader already knows I did. 

We will now return to the South side of the Poto- 
mac river. I was now in Virginia, I knew that but it 
was not a free country and to a free country I was de- 
termined to make my way. Mr. Clay had said that I 
ought to go west, this seemed to impress itself on my 
mind, so I concluded to take the first road runing west 
and keep as much out of public roads as I could, and 
to go to no white peoples house if I could help it. I 
knew the negroes were like myself, they could not read 
and I did not fear any detection frcm them. The 
Hagans had always told me that if I ran away from 
them and they caught me that they could sell me the 
same as if 1 were a negro. So I had great fear of de- 
tection on that account in addition to the fears of being 
caught as I feared for killing Hagan. 

The first idea that struck me when I started, was 
what name I should go by and what I should tell the 
people when questioned. I finally concluded to tell the 
colored people that I had ran away from a hard master 
and was trying to get to a free country, and promise 
them when I got there, and became a man, I would help 
them to get free too, and in this I have been very suc- 
cessful. I also concluded to never tell white people 
anything, and never give them the same name nor the 
same place of destination. I had been so badly treated 
by the Hagans that I had lost all confidence in white 
people. The only friend I had while at Hagans was 
an old black woman. She often hid away a cake or 
piece of pie for me, so I had all confidence in the colored 
people. 

When I left the Potomac river I took the Winchester ' 



— 13— 

road and traveled all day without eating anything and 
at night stopped at a negro quarter and asked an old 
woman to give me something to eat and let me stay all 
night; I told her and her husband all about my affairs, 
they pitied me very much and I heard them talking 
after they thought me asleep. They agreed to give me 
something to take with me to eat, and start me early 
in the morning a safer road. "The poor little fellow" 
the old woman said 'T will give him all the money I 
have got to help him along." So before day in the 
morning they gave me the best they had to eat and 
some to take with me and a few pennies in money; the 
old man took me across the country a mile or more, 
and put me on an old unfrequented road that led to 
Romuey, a small town in the mountains bordering the 
south branch of the Potomac river. Nothing occurred 
during the day to mar my progress. I had plenty to 
eat with me, but when night came the trouble was to 
find a place to stay. I saw a small house some dis- 
tance from the road, supposing it was occupied by ne- 
groes, I went there but found it occupied by white people. 
The man was drunk, well this was nothing for me to see, 
so I asked him if I could stay all night. He said cer- 
tainly 1 could, and said, you d d little rascal I ex- 
pect that you have run away from some place — well I 
dont care if yuu have. Can you sing? I love to hear 
a good song. I said I could sing Blackeyed Susan, like 
a bird. Says he that is the exact thing, my wife's name 
is Susan and she is the best old gal living. Well I 
was a pretty good singer, and knew several good Irish 
ditties and other songs, so I amused him for a long 
time by singing for him; he had plenty of w^hisky but 
no meat in the house, but he had a pretty fat pig in a 
pen. So next morning he concluded that I must stay 
with him that day and butcher his pig for him. I 
done so and we had plenty to eat. Next morning when 
I was ready to start they filled my little bundle with 
plenty of bread and pork to last me two days; so I 



—14- 

went away full of spirits. But I had not traveled 
more than two hours when a young man on horseback 
overtook me and called out to me, Avhere are you going 
you young rascal? I believe you are a run away. 

Well, that was an insult I felt bound to resent. So 
I told him it was none of his business. He up with 
his horse whip and struck me two or three times across 
the shoulders; that was too much for me to take from any 
man, for I began to consider myself some on the muscle 
since my encounter with Hagan. 80 I dropped my 
bundle and up with a good sized stone and hurled at 
him with such good aim that he began to retreat, and 
it was well for him he did, for I could throw a stone 
equal to any man in the country. Now the trouble was 
he was going the same road that I would probably go, 
get help, and arrest and put me in jail and that would 
be the end of me. I finally concluded to die game, so 
I went ahead and in a few miles came to a store and 
tavern. I saw his horse tied there and when I came 
up opposite the tavein he and several young men 
came out and commenced to laugh. As soon as they did 
so I stooped and began to gather up several stones and 
told them to come on, when several of them said that's 
right my lad, take your own part, and if you can't do 
it with your fist, do it with stones. They seemed to 
greatly enjoy my pluck, as did also the fellow who I 
had stoned. 

Nothing of interest occurred for several days. I 
traveled slowly and whenever I could, staid all night 
with colored people. At one place I stayed with the 
owner of a mill. The miller's wife treated me very 
well but asked me more questions than I cared to an- 
swer ; I told her at last that I was running away to 
overtake a young girl to marry her — her parents had 
sent her away to her uncle to keep her out of my way. 
This was a choker for her. I told her I was in disguise 
— that my people were rich. She at last gave me some 
credit for my perseverance, and at that we parted, never 



—15— 

to meet again, though I promised to write to her when 
I got married, and let her know^ how I managed to git 
her. Well, she has had a long time to wait, as I have 
never overtook the girl yet. 

I continued on my journey for several w^eeks getting 
along pretty well, the farther I went the less fears I 
had of being detected ; I passed up thiough Romney, 
Clarksburgh, and then turned towards Kentucky. I 
thought that would be a good place for me ; I cared 
but little which way I went, so that I kept out of towns 
land got to a free country. I went by the Kanawha 
salt works and from them to the nearest point in Ken- 
tucky, but w hen I got there I found it was a slave state. 
I stayed several days with a very nice family, it being 
weather not fit to travel ; I found these people very- 
kind to me and wanted me to stay with them, and to 
do a good part by me, but I was bound to go to a free 
country and told [hem what Mr. Clay had said to me 
about it ; they then advised me to go to Indiana. So 
after a good rest I started and traveled through the 
interior of Kentucky until I reached the Ohio river, 
twenty miles below Louisville, where I found some 
trouble in getting across. I began to think that al- 
though in sight of the ' Promised Laud ' I was never 
to reach it. 

There was a man by the name of Duncan, who had 
a boat but refused to put me over ; he said I w^as a 
runaway and he would be put to trouble if it was known 
that he sent me cut of the State. He concluded to 
have me arrested and kept confined for a time and ad- 
vertise me as a stray boy. He kept me all night and 
in the moruing while he went to see a Squire, his wife 
pitied me and a neighbor calling they concluded for the 
man to take the boat and set me across the river and 
let me go; she said she would tell her husband that I 
had got away. When I stepped my foot on Indiana 
soil the man who put me over the river said to me that 
I was now on free land and was safe from arrests ; he 



—16- 

gave me a shilling and wished rae good luck and hur- 
ried back before Duncan's return. I never heard what 
he said when he did return, neither do I care, and if I 
had ever come across him in a free State, I would have 
learned him how to advertise a runaway boy. 

As soon as I got into Indiana I felt comparatively 
safe and began to think about finding a home ; at that 
early period there were very few people in Indiana. — 
1 very shortly found a place for a few days, and while 
resting myself I learned that there was a good settle- 
ment on the White river, near where Indianapolis now 
stands, and there being a young man going there I con- 
cluded to go with him. When I arrived in the White 
river settlement I soon found a home with a widow by 
the name of Miller, who had a son somewhat older than 
myself and one younger. She was a very kind lady 
and treated me as a mother. She said she would give 
me two dollars a month to help her sons clear up land, 
so I went to work with a will ; at the end of two months 
a neighbor of her's offered me four dollars a month, 
for I could almost do a man's work. I told her what 
I had been offered and she agreed to give me the same, 
as also some old clothes of her sons. I had told her 
that I had run away from home and wanted to take 
my money back to help get my mother and father and 
family to a free country, for which she gave me great 
credit as also did the neighbors. I remained with her 
until November, when I concluded to make my way 
to the east part of Ohio, where I have an Uncle ; there 
was a young man in the neighborhood who seemed to 
be acquainted with the people around there, who said 
he was going on to Ohio, and I prepared to accompany 
him when he went. I had sixteen dollars in silver and 
gold and Mrs. Miller made me a little belt to carry it 
in, and in this way I carried it around my body for 
five or six months, without any person knowing it but 
Mrs. Miller. Well, this man, I have forgotten his 
name, and myself started on foot through a wilderness 



—17— 

country, for there was only a small settlement every 
few miles ; we had plenty to eat with us the first and 
part of the second day. The second day at night we 
came to a small river called Whitewater ; it was very 
much swollen by recent heavy rains, there was no bridge 
and the question was how shall we cross. This man 
said he knew where there was a boat a short distance 
below, and we would go down there and cross and then 
stay all night with a friend of his. I had some fears 
that all was not right, but went with him ; I could do 
nothing better, for there were no houses on that side of 
the river. Well, we traveled several miles, and at last 
come to the boat; it was a small affair and I was afraid 
to get in it, for I could not swim, but he coaxed me into 
it, and when we got into the middle he turned down 
stream, saying he knew the owner of the boat and it 
was all right. I was frightened almost out of my sen- 
ses, I expected to be drowned every moment, but he 
only laughed at me. We passed over a small mill dam 
but the water being so high it was nearly smooth over 
the dam. At last we saw several fires burning in a 
field, there we landed and tied up the boat, and went 
to the nearest fire, when he told me to stay there until 
he went to the house and got something for us to eat. 
I sat down by the burning log heap and commenced to 
think matters over. Here I was in a strange land, with 
a doubtful companion. Just think of it young men, 
me a boy but fifteen years old, seven hundred miles 
from home, sitting all alone in the dead hour of night 
for it was at least two o'clock, not knowing what 
moment my companion might return and murder me. 
He might know that I had money, and had therefore 
coaxed me this lonesome route. I sat there in an awful 
suspense, until tired nature gave way and I fell asleep. 
How long I slept I do not know, I only awakened 
when he called me to get up and get something to eat. 
How or where he got it I never knew. He said the 
people on that farm were his friends; but when I asked 



—18— 

him why he did'nt stay there till morning, he said he 
wanted to get to Eaton, Ohio, that day. Well we eat 
some bread and meat and turnips we found in the field 
and pushed on and arrived in Eaton, Ohio about two 
o'clock that afternoon. When we got there we found 
a number of men playing ball against the Court House. 
The Court house was not finished the walls only being 
up. I very soon saw several men eyeing us very closely 
so much so that I felt somewhat alarmed. At last one 
of the men who I learned afterwards was the high 
sheriff of the county commenced talking with me and 
asking me questions about this man, where I first 
got acquainted with him and how long I had known 
him. Well I came to the conclusion that my impress- 
ions of the night before were correct that I had a sus- 
picious companion. So I told this gentleman all I 
knew about him, he told me that he should arrest him 
on suspicion, which he did. They all had a conversa- 
tion with me afterwards and came to the conclusion 
that I was only a boy and was innocent of any con- 
nection with him in his crimes, therefore they let me 
go free. A gentleman (a carpenter) took me home 
with him and treated me very kindly, and gave me 
much good advice which I did not soon forget. Dur- 
ing that night some officers of an adjoining county, 
came there and found this man in prison arrested and 
took him away 

The next morning I told some gentleman that I was 
trying to get to my uncle's in the eastern part of the 
state, and they gave me a little money, and got a gen- 
tleman who lived in Dayton, who was going home that 
day in a little wagon, to take me that far with him. 
When I got to Dayton, this gentleman took me to a 
Mr. Hoffman's house, who, he said wanted a boy. I 
stayed all night with him, he was a merchant and kept 
a dry goods store and was rich. He owned a farm ten 
miles up Mad river and wanted me to w^ork with his 
hired farmer, and agreed to give me four dollars a 



—19— 

month. I stayed a few days with him until his farmer 
came down, and then went home with him to go to 
work till Spring; but when supper was ready I found 
that I was to eat in the kitchen by myself, his wife be- 
ing too important to eat with a hired boy, although 
her husband was a hired man himself. She was a 
Virginia lady, one of those poor devils that have more 
hair on their head than brains in it. So next morning 
I took Scutch leave of that place, and made another 
start for the East. I stopped all night with a farmer, 
by the name of Maddox, who took a notion that I 
must stay with him, I stayed a few days but found a 
chance to go East with a drove of cattle, the gentleman 
offering me twenty cents a day and board I started and 
went as far as Mt. Pleasant in Jefferson county, Ohio, 
w^hen I heard from my uncle, who lived but a few miles 
north of there. So I concluded to leave the drove, 
and go to ray uncle's, which I did, and found them 
very much surprised to see me, so much so that I 
found it necessary to tell them all. 

I would state that here at my uncle's w^as the first 
place that I had ever told my real name ; I had a 
different name every place I stopped and intended to 
do so until the year and a day was out ; but by the 
time I reached my uncle's I had learned considerable 
of the manners and customs, as well as laws of the 
country, and was not half so superstitious as I was 
when I started. I stayed at my uncle's until the middle 
of March and engaged myself very much with my 
cousin, a young girl near my age, who took me to 
every party in the country and there were plenty of 
them. I became quite a beau among the younger 
girls and many was the boy that was jealous of me, 
and was glad when I went away ; but the girls were 
all sorry, even the older ones, for I had become quite 
a gay boy, and could sing like a nightinggale, which, 
I suppose, made me popular. But the time arrived 
for me to start ; my uncle sent me to the Ohio river on 



—20— 

horseback, I crossed and started on foot for Washing- 
ton, Pennsylvania, and reached a small town called 
Hickory, where I stayed all night with a farmer who 
lived on the edge of the town. He wanted me to stay 
with him and break flax for him, which I agreed to 
do at twenty-five cents a day, provided he would find 
me an old suit of clothes to work in, as I had a new 
suit I earned while at ray uncle's. He had a young 
daughter who was foolish enough to fall in love with 
me the first week I was there and the result was that 
he discharged me to get us apart. Here I was again 
on the road all alone, making a fresh start for home ; 
the year was now out and I was bound to go home 
and face the music. 

When I left Hickory I went to Washington, Pa., 
and struck the turnpike road that led East, there I 
expected to fall in with a wagon going to Baltimore 
or some place East so that I could have company. — 
I had great fears of falling in with traveling footmen 
since the only one 1 had tra\reled with proved a dan- 
gerous companion for a boy. While 1 was looking 
around for a chance a drove of horses came up to the 
hotel where I was going to stay all-night ; I at once 
made a bargain with the owner to go with him for 
ray board to Frederick, Maryland, where I would be 
near my home. We started next morning and in 
three days were in Cumberland, Md., where the owner 
sold out his horses to a stage company. Here I was 
again adrift alone in the world, in a strange land, but 
1 had got used to disappointments and vexations, so 
it had but little eftect on me, for I was only a little 
over a hundred miles from home and I could soon get 
there. I was standing talking with boys when a man 
came up and said he wanted two hands to go to 
Georgetown, D. C, on a boat loaded with flour, for 
which he would give fifty cents a day with board, 
there and back. I told him that I wanted to go there 
and would go for fifty cents a day without being paid 



_21— 

for my time coming back, but that I had never work- 
ed on a boat but could learn. He said he would take 
me, for any person could help pull an oar ; so the next 
morning found me a boatman on the Potomac. 

The first day out we had a fine time at it. I soon 
learned to pull an oar, but the second day just before 
dark we got on a rock and had to stay there all-night 
without anything to eat, for we had no place for fire, 
to cook with, and we all expected to be drowned be- 
fore we got through with the scrape we were in ; but 
as luck had it, next day the water raised and we got 
off; we went ashore and built a fire, cooked and eat 
until we were filled. When we made a second start 
we went on smoothly until we got within four or five 
miles of Georgetown when we brought ourselves up on 
another rock ; here we were in for another nights 
peril, but we managed some how next morning, about 
ten o'clock, to get off, and in one hour more we were 
safely landed at the wharf ; we had eat but little for 
twenty -four hours, so we went to a tavern kept for 
boatmen, and such a breakfast I never eat before or 
since as I eat there. We had slept but little, so we 
all went to bed and got a good sleep ; the next morn- 
ing the Captain paid me off and I started for home 
which was about thirty-three miles. I started full of 
hopes and fears, for I had never heard a word from 
home since I left, which was then some fourteen 
months, but go I must and go I did. When I got 
within four miles of my mothers house I stayed all- 
night, for I wanted to hear the news and get home in 
the morning. The family I stayed with knew me and 
told me all about the affairs at home and was glad 
to see me alive. I waited the next morning until 
after breakfast and then started for home. I avoided 
the neighbours as much as I could, as I had a desire 
for my mother to be the first to know that I was still 
alive, and I think the longest mile I e ^er traveled was 
the mile that brought me home. I went to the bouse 



—22— 

the back way and when there walked around to the 
front door and there stood my mother washing her 
breakfast dishes ; I shall never forget the scene that 
then occurred ; she gave one loud scream and then 
caught me in her arms and fell on her knees and 
thanked God for my sufe deliverance to her. She 
could scarcely believe her owe; eyes, I had grown con- 
siderably and been gone so long that she thought it 
almost impossible that I was the same. Poor mother! 
although near fifty years have rolled around since 
then, and more than forty years have passed since you 
were called to that land where sighing and sorrow 
never comes, your image is still impressed indelibly 
on my mind, and I never will forget the many bless- 
ings you heaped upon my head the day I returned 
home when you thought me dead. 

Young reader, remember this, that every sigh and 
every pain you give your mother will only return to 
t jrment you when she is gone. Oh ! what a pleasing 
thought, when you are about to take the last look in 
this world at your mother, to think that you never 
caused her one sigh or tear by your disobedience to 
her. 

My father and younger sisters and brothers soon 
gathered around me and we had a grand rejoicing ; 
ray oldest sister was sent for (she living out a sewing) 
and she too, at first, refused to believe that I was really 
her brother. In a few days we all became ourselves 
again. My mother and father were highly pleased 
with the money I had brought them and had made up 
their minds from what I told them to remove to the 
West. So it was agreed that I should go up the Mo- 
nocacy Valley and work through hay- making and 
harvest and earn all I could and then in the Fall all 
go to Ohio. I went and mowed, hauled hay, cut grain 
and oats, and helped gather all the harvest crops 
which kept me two months; I made a man's wages 
the whole time. When I was done I had a nice little 



—23— 

pile of money, for I had not spent a cent. I then left 
for home, I came to Frederick, bought myself a nice 
suit of clothes and had twenty dollars left for my 
mother. Upon my arrival home we immediately 
made preparations tor going West, and by the first of 
October we were all on the road with an old horse and 
cart to seek our fortune in Ohio, where we arrived 
safely in about three weeks. 

I felt very proud to think that I had been able to 
earn enough money to take my father and mother, 
sisters and brothers to a free country and that, too, 
before I was sixteen years old, for I was only sixteen 
a few days after we arrived in Ohio. I make this 
statement to show young men and boys what perse- 
verance will do. After our arrival in Ohio we all 
went to work to fix for the wintei ; we settled in a 
small village called Flushing, in Belmont county, 
about twenty miles north-west of Wheeling, Va., 
where some of the family still reside. It was soon 
agreed upon that the family could very well do with- 
out my services, as everything was cheap and a great 
demand for all kind of labor, so I concluded to learn 
the blacksmith trade. I went to work the first of the 
year with a Mr. Jones who was a fine workman; I had 
a natural talent for that business and by Spring could 
do almost any kind of work. My boss declared that 
I had been at the trade before I came to him ; he said 
no person could learn as much as I knew in so short 
a time ; he gave me four dollars a month for the next 
six months commencing the first of April. I stayed 
with him until Fall and gave all I earned to my 
mother for she took care of my clothes. 

It was during this year that I first began to shape 
my political course. That region of Ohio was settled 
by people from all parts of the East, consequently 
there was a mixed population, which led me to take 
the course in politics I did. It was this : whenever 
I met with boys or girls of my own age that came 



—24— 

from Maryland or Virgiuia, I found them uneducated 
and ignorant, as much so as myself and family, (it 
was true I had learned considerable in my travels,) 
but when I met with boys and girls from Pennsylvania 
or any of the Eastern States they were well educated 
and sharp. I looked at this, I studied the matter over, 
I thought nature had done as much for one as the 
other. Then what was the cause of the difference? — 
There was a difference; if any of us wanted a letter 
written we had to go to a Northern family to get it 
done, (none of us could write a word,) Well, after 
long and patient investigation of the subject, I saw 
the cause : it was slavery. In the North it was the 
policy of the leaders to educate the masses so as to fit 
every man for usefulness. In the South, it was the 
policy of the slave holder to keep the masses of the 
poor whites in ignorance, in order that they could the 
better use them to sustain their own peculiar institu- 
tions. If you educate the poor white man, he, labor- 
ing and being in daily intercourse with the slave, will 
educate him, and as soon as the negro is educated he 
will no longer be a slave ; further, if you educate the 
poor white man you thereby teach him that he has 
rights, and therefore you can no longer coop him up 
and vote him as you have been doing, so the only plan 
was to keep them uneducated, which has ever been 
the policy of the South, until this day. After I had 
fully made up my mind on this point I was determined 
that no vote of mine should ever be given to any man 
or party that would sanction the perpetuation of this 
system, and as time rolled on and I became a man and 
voter I discovered that the democratic party was the 
apologist of the slave power, and as such could 
never get a vote from me, and how well I have kept 
my resolution you will see when I tell you that in 
fifty years voting I have never voted for a democrat. 
I will now return to my former subject. I stayed 
with Jones until October when I concluded that I 



—25— 

would travel a year aud work under instructions with 
different bosses thinking it the better plan. I had a 
great idea that Pennsylvania was the greatest country 
in the world, so I concluded to iBnish my trade there. 
About this time there was a man from Pennsylvania 
buying cattle through our country and I made a bar- 
gain to go with him east; he gave me fifty cents a day 
with no return money and advanced my mother ten 
dollars. So I left home again, this time with my 
mothers consent to be gone a year ; by this time I 
considered myself a man, and was a pretty good work- 
man at some things. I could shoe a horse with the 
best of them. 

Nothing unusual occurred during our long and 
tedious journey. We arrived at last at a place called 
Doe Kun, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, where, in the 
course of a week, my boss sold out his cattle, paid 
me a small balance due, and I started to hunt work. 
I went back to the Susquehanna river to a small 
town called Highspire and went to work with a man 
under instructions to learn edge tool making. This 
was a branch of the business much needed in the 
West, and I knew but little about it. A few days 
after my arrival there the young people got up what 
they called a Strouse dance, a thing which I had 
never seen, of course every man had a right to go and 
take a girl with him if he bought a ticket ; I being an 
entire stranger, had no girl, but went by myself to 
see the fun. 

When I arrived the tickets were all sold but one, 
and I bought that one. They were waiting to sell the 
last ticket so as to begin the dance. A Strouse dance 
is nothing more nor less than this : The manager buys 
the materials for a full suit for a lady, (dress, bonnet, 
shoes, stockings, &c.,) spreads them on a pine bush as 
a prize ; they then place a candle in a dark lantern, 
tie a string around it, pass the string through the 
lantern and fasten a small key to it on the outside, 
*2 



—26— 

light the candle and commence dancing a regular 
step around the room. The manager, when the 
dancing begins, hands the head of the column a small 
stick; he carries it around the room, hands it to his 
partner, if he has one, if not, he carries it twice 
around and then hands it to the next, and he to his 
partner, she to the next, and so on, until at the end of 
several hours the candle burns down to the string, 
burns it off and the key falls; whoever has the stick 
when the key falls, wins the strouse. If it is a gen- 
tleman he gives it to his partner, if a lady it is hers. 
Well, I had the luck to win the strouse which caused 
no little jealousy among the young men, and all the 
girls wondered who would get it, as I had no partner. 
After the strouse is over they turn it into a general 
hoe-down dance ; I having no partner got my eye on 
a pretty good looking girl and asked her partner to 
allow her to dance with me but he at once refused, 
telling me to get a partner for myself I felt very in- 
dignant at such an insult, but concluded, as I was a 
stranger, not to resent it there but settle the matter 
with him some other time. I was very stout, and but 
few men could handle me but withal was very quiet, 
preferring fun to fighting, but never intended to take 
an insult without resenting it to the best of my abili- 
ty. I therefore walked away without saying any- 
thing ; the whole party seemed to enjoy his insult to 
me. The young girl immediately walked up to me 
and said for his insulting language she would dance 
with me. I took her by the hand, walked out on the 
floor, paid the fiddler to play a tune and danced a set 
with her. When we got through the dance I led her 
to a seat and sat down by her. As soon as we were 
seated her partner came up and said he could thrash 
any man that would take another's partner from him. 
I raised from my seat and told him that I had not 
taken his partner from him but she had left him of 
her own accord, and so far as thrashing was concerned 



—27— 

that he could Dot whip one side of me, and whenever 
he thought he could, to just pitch in. This caused 
considerable commotion among the crowd; he started 
at me in a menacing manner, when I simply dealt 
him a blow above his eye that laid him flat on the 
floor ; I gave him a few kicks when he cried out take 
him off! I had not been scratched. I found several 
of them preparing for a fight, when one of them said : 
you can't do that with me. I said come out in the 
street, lean thrash you all. Out they all rushed, 
pulling off" their coats as they went ; I followed and 
in laying down my coat on a pile of stones I picked 
up a good sized one, held it in my hand and made at 
the man who was to fight me and dealt him a blow 
that laid him out as they thought for dead ; no one 
knew that I struck him with a stone nor did they ever 
know. The whole crowd immediately made a rush 
on me with clubs, and one with an axe knocked me 
down, and if it had not been for several strong 
teamsters that were working among their horses across 
the street at a tavern, they would no doubt have kill- 
ed me. My employer and several others came and 
took me home, and the first thing I knew was the next 
day, when I found myself in my room pretty badly 
beat and cut about the head. The young girl and 
her mother were sitting by me taking care of me. — 
The girl had not left me one moment since I had got 
home. She had my prize all safe and had sent for 
her mother ; of course I gave her the prize and in a 
few days was all right again. I visited her several 
times after I got able to go about. One Sunday a few 
weeks after my fight I walked down the river a mile 
or so to a tavern kept on the river bank, when I met 
one of the fellows who helped to beat me. He asked 
me to drink, when I took a tumbler of whisky and 
threw tumbler, whisky and all into his face, knocked 
him down and paid him well for his share in beating 
me. I knew that I could not stay in that place any 



—28- 

longerand I went home, settled with my boss, visited 
my girl and left. I never saw her after that, but 
heard several years after, that she had married well 
and was considered one of the first women in the 
country. 

After crossing the river I went to York and got 
work with an excellent man by the name of Elefritz, 
where I stayed until harvest. During the Spring there 
was a regimental muster in York when all the country 
people of course came to town ; during the evening I 
saw a young man mistreating a young girl ; I thought 
this a proper time for me to show my manhood, to pro- 
tect a female, so I stepped up and asked what was 
w^rong. The girl said he wanted to go home with her 
and because she refused him he had insulted her ; I 
told him to leave or I should make him do so. The 
crowd raised a great laugh when I said I will go with 
you my little duck and she took my arm and away 
we went amid the shouts of the crowd of old and 
young. He followed to have revenge as he said ; well, 
he got it in the shape of being knocked down and 
kicked two or three times, but I went home with the 
girl and stayed until next day, and so ended this affair. 

At the beginning of harvest I went back to Mary- 
land to work on the Monocacy with my old employers 
at harvesting. I earned a nice little sum this time 
also. I then left for Hancock, a town on the road to 
Cumberland, Md.,) to shoe horses for Keeside & Co., 
stage proprietors. I worked there several months, 
when my boss ran away and I lost all my wages, he 
having drawn all the money and kept it — his name 
was Pool. 

I packed my kit and started for new quarters, and 
had not travelled far before I fell in with a man going 
west ; when we came to the foot of a mountain he said 
he knew a short path across the mountain that would 
save several miles walk, so we went that way and 
when we had got to the top of the mountain we sat 



—29— 

down to take a drink of whisky, for we had a bottle 
full with us; we had just taken a drink when he was 
seized with a fit, and continued to rave and froth at 
the mouth for a long time. Just think of it, here I 
was on the top of a high mountain two miles from a 
living being, all alone, with as I thought a dying man ; 
what to do I did not know. I began to pour whisky 
into him when at last he became sensible and able to 
walk ; I managed to get him down the hill to a tavern 
on the road, and there I left him and never heard of 
him since. 

I found work at Sevan's tavern at the foot of Twin 
mountains, with a man by the name of Knight, to shoe 
horses for the stage company; he was a poor, drunken 
sot and I soon found that he was not the man for me, 
but not until I had got myself in a scrape about him. 
One night he got into a fuss with one of the stage 
drivers who 1 saw choking him severely ; when I 
went to his assistance the man let go of him and with 
a stable fork struck me across the head and gave me 
a mark that I shall carry to my grave. I was not 
able to thrash him, for he was very stout, so from shear 
necessity I had to let the matter rest there, and as 
soon as I was able I started for Cumberland, Md. 

I had not received a cent for more than four months 
work and began to think that I had better go home, 
but got work with a very good man who gave me good 
wages and paid me honestly, his name was Riser who 
I believe is still living. But while I was at Cumber- 
land I became acquainted with L. \V. Stockton, who 
run a line of stages to Wheeling, Va. He took a 
liking to me and offered me a shop and tools to shoe 
horses for him twelve miles east of Uniontown, Pa., 
so I packed up and left for my new field of labor. I 
got along finely, the drivers all liked my shoeing and 
I had plenty of time to do considerable other work. 
Soon after I went to this place there-was a wood chopp- 
ing and quilting in the neighbourhood and all the 



•^so- 
mountain girls and boys were invited, I among the 
rest. I went and was finely dressed, which took the 
eye of the girls as you all know it will do, so it was 
little wood that I chopped ; I had plenty to do to talk 
to the girls. This of course caused some jealousy 
among the mountaineers, so when night came and 
dancing began, I went to the kitchen and commenced 
singing ; being a good singer, I soon had the whole 
flock of girls around me ; none wanted to dance while 
I would sing ; this stirred up a fuss, one fellow said to 
his girl, if she refused to go to the other room and 
dance with him there would be a bear skinned before 
morning. My name being Bear, I knew he alluded 
to me — this was an insult which I resented at once, 
by saying that he nor any of his friends could skin 
me. I had but one friend there as I knew of and 
he but a small pattern, but I always found that a 
game chicken generally fared the best, so I showed 
pluck to the last. No sooner had I said what I did 
than he and others began to strip for a fight ; I always 
found that the first lick was an advantage so I hauled 
away at him and laid him out and was not long set- 
tling matters with him, when another fellow began to 
say something, I up with my fist and laid him out. At 
this moment a large, powerful looking man was 
pulliuT; off his coat as I supposed to attack me, but to 
my supprise he stepped out and swore that I could 
lick any man in the mountains, and if I could not, he 
could, and slapped me on the shoulder and called me 
by my first name and said he knew me from childhood, 
although I did'nt know him; "Say what you please 
and I will back you." Well in less than ten minutes 
we had cleaned the house and had the field to our- 
selves ; they went for my girl's father, he came to take 
her home but we out-witted the old man and got out 
of his way. 

The next Sunday I went with her to a woods meet- 
ins; two or three miles from there, where this whole 



—31— 

party saw us, as I expected they would and so prepar- 
ed myself; I borrowed a pair of fine pistols from the 
landlord I boarded with and went without fear. When 
we started home the two that I had licked and another 
followed us ; I told the girl not to be frightened, 
neither was she, as I soon found out. When we had 
got a short distance from the meeting they came up to 
us and said "we will now settle our old scrape." 
Agreed boys, said I and hauled out both pistols and 
held them all cocked and ready to fire right at them 
and said, leave you villains or I will blow your brains 
out. Well you never saw three such scared men in 
your life ; I said run or I'll fire. They began to back 
out, I following up and the girl saying shoot them, 
shoot them. Just at this time I saw my large friend 
with one or two others, coming on the run, for they 
had missed us and supposed that they had followed 
us ; when they saw my friends coming they took to 
their heels and ran like wild turkeys down through 
the woods; I fired one shot after them, only to scare 
them, and it was the last I saw of them, as I never 
had the pleasure of meeting them again, 

I stayed at that place several months, until my 
mother desired me so earnestly to come home (for I 
had sent her regular letters as also a little money) 
that I concluded to go home, which I did and arrived 
home in the Fall, about the same time I had left two 
years before. I was now a grown man and made up 
my mind that I would quit travelling and settle down 
to work, as I v^as now nineteen years old and tired of 
travelling. 

My friends were all glad to see me and I to see them. 
I rested a week or two and then got work seven miles 
from home, but went home every Saturday night. 

My mother and father were getting along very well 
at this time, with what little I helped them. So in 
order to keep me from travelling away from home my 
mother advised me to get married although I was so 



—32— 

young, whicli on the 6th of the following month I 
did. With this narrative of my early history and 
travels I shall drop the* curtain over my early life. 
Hoping that all young men and boys who read this 
chapter may find means and opportunity to improve 
upon the course that I pursued, as many might have 
done worse than I did, with the start in life that I had. 
In all my short comings I never forgot my mother, 
nor did I ever forget that one great idea, that honesty 
is the best policy. If I had not pursued that course, 
I never should have gotten through as well as I did. 



CHAPTER II. 

MY START IN POLITICAL LIFE. 

THE first thing after my marriage, was to get a 
shop and commence business for myself, although 
I could neither read or write, I thought that I could 
get along very well, as my wife was a good scholar, 
and in place of trying to get an education, I would 
study the human character, and politics. I had seen 
so much of the deception of men, both in and out of 
politics, that I thought it was of vital importance to 
a successful career in life, to thoroughly understand 
the human character, and in this I think I was pretty 
successful. 

Nothing occurred until the year 1824 to divide the 
people in politics in our section of country, until 
Gen. Jackson was nominated for the Presidency as 
was also Henry Clay, John Q. Adams and Wm. Wirt. 



—33— 

I very soon found that Gen. Jackson was not the man 
for me. Every man in our county who was opposed 
to free schools, free labor, or protection to American 
industry, was a Jackson man. At that time most of 
our people were ignorant of these subjects, which 
were new to them, and consequently did not meet 
their approbation.- I differed with the most of them, 
believing that the only hope of laboring men was in 
free education and protection to their industry, against 
the cheap labor of the old world. 

In addition to the above I had learned to read a 
little, and had got hold of the history of England and 
found that as far back as 1447 Edward III. had 
said that no nation could ever become independent, 
that depended upon any other country for supplies. 
I had fully investigated the matter, and came to the 
conclusion that so long as we, as a nation, purchased 
more from other countries than we sold to them 
we thereby brought the balance of trade against us, 
and had to pay in cash the difference between what 
we bought and sold. In this way we were continually 
draining our country of our gold and silver. I be- 
lieved and do yet, that in order to become prosperous 
as a nation, we must sell more than we buy, thereby 
bringing the balance of trade in our favor. Of this 
I was convinced and so I argued, and on this point I 
took my stand against Gen. Jackson. 

As soon as it was known that Gen. Jackson had 
been defeated by the people, I took a decided stand 
for Mr. Adams, as Mr. Clay was not in the field, 
and at once became a warm supporter of the Tariff 
that passed the following winter, known as the Tariff 
of 1824. I then commenced looking at parties as 
they stood in our own state, and soon found that the 
Jackson Party were the men to pass negro laws and 
oppose free schools and every other measure calcula- 
ted to elevate labor and the cause of freedom. 

Every four weeks there came a colored itinerant 



—34— 

Preacher along and I invited him to preach for 
us in a small Methodist church near by, — the 
society gave their consent, and turned out in a body 
to hear him, when they all agreed he could out preach 
any man they had heard for a long time, but no per- 
son would invite him to his home. Although I was 
not a Methodist I would not see the man after kindly 
preaching for us such a good sermon turned out of 
doors, so I invited him to stay with me, which he did. 
As soon as it was known that I had "harboured," as 
they called it, a negro, several of my customers took 
their work from me, and I was so much persecuted 
for that act, that I moved to another place. This act 
only confirmed me more fully, that the Democratic 
party was the apologist for slavery and were opposed 
to freedom and the elevation of the poor man. Furth- 
er I found that almost every good Christain man of 
broad progressive views, was a Whig. The reader will 
thus see the reason I had for my opposition to the 
Democratic party. 

As soon as Mr. Adams took his seat and appointed 
Mr. Clay his Secretary of State, the whole Jackson 
party began a howl about bargain and sale ; a more 
villainous and black-hearted falsehood was never 
hatched out of Hell than that charge, as all readers 
know. Mr. Clay was a Senator at the time and had 
no vote on the question ; the Lower House of Con- 
gress alone electing the President by States, Mr. Clay 
simply using his influence as a Senator, with the dele- 
gation from his state in Congress for Mr. Adams, as 
he had a right to do the same as any other citizen. I 
have no doubt but that charge of bargain and sale had 
much to do in the defeat of Mr. Clay in 1832, as many 
of the old Democrats believed the story. Some of 
them the ignorant ones especially, believe it to this 
day ; and I do not wonder when I look at the com- 
plexion of the present Democratic Party. During the 
interval between the elections of 1824 and 1828, I 



—35— 

gathered all the information I could from the best men 
of our country, on the great questions that were then 
agitating the public mind, such as the Tariff, and Nat- 
ional Bank, and many were the debates and disputes 
I had with the friends of Jackson on the subject. Our 
disputes often run very high, and many were the black 
eyes and bloody noses I gave them for their abuse of 
Mr. Adams and his principles. The Democratic party 
was then, as it is now, composed of the roughs and ig- 
norant portion of the country. In nine cases out of 
ten, at that period, as well as at the present time, when- 
ever you found a man whose skull was too thick for 
one sensible idea to penetrate it, that man was a Dem- 
ocrat. In my young and wild days I concluded, that 
if I could not talk "common sense" into their heads, I 
would beat it in them. So whenever they began to 
abuse Mr. Adams or Mr. Clay, in my presence, I gen- 
erally paid them for it with a bloody nose. 

I was in the habit of speaking at small meetings 
about the country, in those days, and on one occasion 
the Democrats said that no Whig should speak at a 
school house in the upper end of the county. I thought 
this was a chance for me to show my pluck, so I went 
to the school directors and rented the school-house for 
a certain Saturday afternoon, and drew up a regular 
lease for it, paying twenty five cents for rent ; so that 
afternoon the property was mine; I then got a man by 
the name of Sills, in an adjoining county, who was a 
great fighter, to go with me. We took our rifles wdth 
us, and at the appointed time we were on the spot^ I 
told the people that I had come to speak, and that I 
was on my own property and did not intend to be in- 
terrupted. Many of them knew Sills as well as they 
knew me, and concluded that the better way for them 
was to keep quiet. I made as strong a speech as I 
could. After I closed I invited them to reply, when 
one of them stepped froward and commenced to deny 
-some of my charges against his party ; but I floored 



—36- 

him in that, by producing a Democratic speech in Con- 
gress, portions of which 1 had just quoted, and thereby- 
raised the laugh on him by his own friends. When 
the meeting was over, Sills and myself mounted our 
horses bidding them good-bye and asked them if they 
had any more school-houses at which Whigs dare not 
speak, if they had to let us know it. With this we 
rode off singing 

"The star spangled banner in triumph shall wave. 
O'er the land ol' the free and the home of the brave." 

Just before the election in 1828, I removed some 
distance West to Muskingum County, where I was not 
known, and being a stranger, said but little on politics, 
as nearly all my neighbours were Democrats, therefore 
but few knew my politics until the day of election. 
There were but five votes polled for Mr. Adams, in our 
election district, and one of them was mine. The Jackson 
men knew of but four Adams men in the district, and 
when they found five votes for him, they offered a gal- 
lon of whisky, (for whisky was then as it is now, their 
staple commodity) for any one to show them the fifth 
man. I stepped up and said "I don't want your whis- 
ky gentlemen, but I am the man you are looking for, 
what do you want with me?" when something was 
said about licking the man that did it. I said gentle- 
men, I heard something said about licking the man 
that did it. I voted for Adams, and I can thrash any 
Jackson man in the county, and whenever you are ready 
bring on your best man for to begin with. They im- 
mediately in a most cowardly manner crowded around 
me, and all that could get a chance to strike me fell on 
me and beat me nearly dead. The poor cowardly dev- 
ils then left me to be taken home by one of my neigh- 
bours. Well I paid two of them w^ell for it afterwards. 
One or two of the leaders left the neighborhood and I 
never met them again. 

Jackson was elected, and things as they usually do, 
after the election is over, settled down quietly and all 



—37— 

bitter feeling mostly subsided. Things went on pretty- 
smoothly until the summer of 1832, when my great 
friend and favorite, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was 
nominated for the Presidency by the Whig party. — 
I was determined to make use of every available 
means to secure his election, and spent much of my 
time iu my county, riding around among the people, 
holding friendly talks with them, showing them that 
Jackson's course in removing the deposits from the 
State banks, and his opposition to the protective policy 
of the Whig party, would work detrimental to the best 
interest of the country. In this way I got the greater 
part of the people to thinking, and examining the sub- 
ject for themselves. Ro strongly did I agitate the sub- 
ject, that when the election came off, the same district 
that gave /dams but five votes fuur years before, gave 
Mr. Clay fifty-six majority. But with all of Jackson's 
arbitrary acts staring him in the face, the people had 
not become enlightened enough to defeat him, and he 
was re-elected in preference to that great and good 
man, Henry Clay. 

I shall now drop the curtain for a short time as 
nothing occurred of any note, until 1834, when our 
county had become pretty evenly divided in politics. — 
The Democrats began to liave some fears that they 
would loose the county, as there was an election to 
take place that winter, as a Supreme Judge was to be 
elected by the Legislature, and our county was en- 
titled to two members of the Lower House, and one 
Senator. So both parties went to work with a will. — 
There were some public improvements going on in our 
end of the county, which employed about a hundred 
Irish laborers, the most of them were not entitled to 
vote, but the Democrats, as usual, were determined to 
vote them ; and in order to carry out their villainous 
plan, they got all their tickets printed on blue paper 
in order that if any man undertook to vote a white 
ticket, that was not entitled to vote, they would chai- 



—38— 

lenge his vote. I found this out a day or so before 
the election, and went to town and got the same kind 
of tickets printed, headed Democratic ticket, with all 
Whig names for offices. The night before the election 
I went to the Irish shanties, and gave them the tickets, 
charo;ing them not to show the tickets to any person, 
for the Whig's would find it out and counterfeit them. 
So the next day, when the Irish saw all the Demo- 
cratic tickets were blue, they, of course, thought it all 
right, and the most of them voted our ticket. No per- 
son knew anything about it until it was too late, and 
we thereby elected our whole ticket.. The Democrats 
never forgave me for that trick while I lived in that 
county. Had the Irish have gotten hold of me that 
night after the election was over, they would have 
treated me pretty roughly ; but I had glory enough 
over our victory in the election of our whole ticket 
without stopping to consult the feelings of my worthy 
Irish friends, who so blindly voted our ticket. 

Time passed on, when in 1836 Gen. Harrison was 
the nominee of the Whig parly for the Presidency. — 
I again went to work in my own county, using all my 
ability to secure his election. Then was the time to 
have run Mr. Clay ! Van Buren was a very weak 
man, having nothing to recommend him to public 
favor, except the popularity of Gen. Jackson. This, 
I always thought, Mr. Clay could have overcome. — 
Harrison was poor and not very well known ; Jack- 
son took advantage of this, and by recommending Van 
Buren to his friends and bringing the patronage of the 
Government to bear in his favor, succeeded in elect- 
ing him. 

There was one incident that occurred in that Cam- 
paign that I wish to relate in order to show, to what 
lencjth the Democrats would go to carry a point, when 
hard pushed. I had been a thorn in their side in that 
county for a year or two back, and they were deter- 
mined to have some revenge upon me. So the morn- 



—39— 

ing of the election in 1836 they got one of their tools 
to swear out a warrant for me for selling whisky with- 
out license when I had never sold a drop of whisky in 
my life, with or without license. They had me arrest- 
ed and taken twelve miles to the county town, think- 
ing to hold me until too late to vote, but in this they 
failed ; I gave security and got back in good time, 
not only to vote, but to thrash two of their dupes who 
had undertaken to do the dirty work for them, and in 
a few days my trial came off and I was honorably 
acquitted. 

The night of election I carried the vote of our dis- 
trict to town. We had beat them pretty badly in our 
district as well as through the county, which raised 
their dander to such a pitch, that their candidate for 
Congress, finding how matters stood, rallied a lot of 
his rowdy friends to thrash us Whigs who were re- 
joicing over our victory, among them one Casey, a 
gambler, and a loafer, who said he could lick any 
Whig in the town, and bantered me out to fioht, but 
as I did not feel inclined to dirty my hands with such 
a character as he was, I just picked up a good sized 
stone, and hurled it at his head, which settled him for 
that night. We then rallied, drove the whole herd 
from the field, and went to this Casey's gambling hell 
and smashed in every window in it, and thus had our 
revenge for the insult they gave us. Casey was glad 
to get off* as well as he did, and their candidate for 
Congress hid himself or he would have fared badly, 
as did several of their leaders. After the election was 
over all our bitter feelings soon died away, and all 
went on right again. 

As all my youthful days had been spent in wander- 
ing abo it the world, I had little inclination to remain 
in one place long, so in the Spring of 1837 I heard of 
a good place for my business in South Bloomfield, 
Pickaway county, on the Scioto river a few miles 
South of Columbus. To this place I removed and 
went to work. 



—40— 

The little village I moved to as well as the town- 
ship in which it was the only village, was composed of 
Whigs. We could beat them five to one, this suited 
me, as I could now say and do almost as I pleased. — 
Sometimes some hard-shell Democrat would come to 
town and imbibe a little too freely in democratic 
argument (whisky) when some of the boys would put 
him on a small hand cart they called a rolling ma- 
chine and give him a good ride around, to shake his 
democratic principles out of him. Whenever any of 
these fellows got too much for the boys we men would 
come to their rescue. 

I soon became very popular with the people in that 
place, for I was considered the best posted man on 
politics in the county, as I had thoroughly studied 
every question of that day. Whenever I could not 
fully understand a question, in place of remaining in 
ignorance, I always went to some well posted man and 
got the information I needed. In this way I had 
learned much of what I knew. 

Here allow me to remark, that thousands of young 
men and old ones too, remain all their lives in ignor- 
ance of very much valuable information because of a 
very foolish conceited notion, that no person is able to 
learn them anything. I have often talked with men, 
who were entirely ignorant of the subject they were 
talking about, and could have learned them much 
that would have been valuable to them but they were 
conceited and refused to be enlightened. This is, in a 
great measure, the cause of so much ignorance in the 
world. I have seen men so ignorant on the subject of 
politics, that they charged the Declaration of ludepen- 
dance with being a Whig lie, because a young Whig 
lawyer read it at a Fourth of July celebration. Had 
a Democrat have read it he would have called it the 
best thing he ever heard. One Democrat in the moun- 
tains of Virginia refused to go and hear me make a 
Tariff speech, because he thought it was a disease 



—41— 

among cattle and that I was going to tell them 
that I knew a cure. He said that all I would tell 
them was a lie, for it could not be cured, that he knew 
of three cows that had died of the disease only a few 
days ago up the country a few miles from him. Of 
such men as he we find plenty in the Democra,tic ranks. 
They are the men they want, as such men can be more 
easily controlled than men of sense and information. 
Just tell such a fellow that it is all a damned Whig 
lie and he goes away fully satisfied, without investigat- 
ing the subject for himself. Of such men we could 
never make Whigs or Kepublicans. To be a Whig or 
a Kepublican, a man must be possessed of thought and 
action, of enterprise and progress, not willing to stand 
still and remain where our fathers left us, but to press 
forward, and open wide the gates, that lead to the pros- 
perity and to the elevation of every living being. 

During the Summer and Fall of 1839 there was 
much speculation about who would be the Whig candi- 
date for the Presidency at its next NationalConvention 
that was to meet at Harrisburg, Pa., in December of 
that year. Finally when they met they nominated 
Gen. Harrison, this time with a fair prospect of elect- 
ing him. The Whigs of Ohio immediately made ar- 
raiigements to hold a grand ratification meeting the 
22d of the following February, and accordingly sent 
invitations to all the neighbouring States to join them ; 
they expected to make (as they did) a grand affair of 
it. So by the 20th the people began to come to Col- 
umbus by thousands, from all parts of the country, so 
much so that by the 21st there was no place to put 
them, every house had to be turned into a hotel. They 
came in all possible ways, had all kinds of banners 
and devices and were dressed in all kinds of costumes, 
representing every trade and country that could be 
thought of, hauling on tlieir wagons steamboats, forts, 
log cabins, coons tied on long poles, barrels of cider 
and every other conceivable thing, as a burlesque on 



—42— 

what the Democrats had said of Gen. Harrison, they 
having called him the log cabin, hard cider and coon 
skin candidate when a candidate in 1836. 

On the morning of the 21st I too concluded to go 
in my blacksmith clothes, leather apron and all. So I 
started with my leather apron on and my face all black 
just as I came out of the shop, and arrived in Colum- 
bus just as they commenced speaking at the main stand 
and by twelve o'clock they were speaking at several 
stands. 

It was a miserable day, wet and cold, but none of us 
cared for the weather, we were too much elated by the 
great demonstration around us. The Convention ad- 
journed about 2 o'clock to enable the various commit- 
tees to prepare shelter for the great multitude of 
people; I was standing by the main-stand, talking with 
some friends, when Col. Cochran, a customer of mine, 
who had often heard me talk at our Primary meetings 
in our town, stepped up and said : "Get on the stand 
Bear and give us a speech, you can do it as well as the 
best of them." " No sir," said I, "that would be too 
much for me," when he called out, "Bear, a speech 
from Bear — gentlemen he is a first-rate speaker." The 
crowd rushed on me, and before I had time to think 
about it, had hoisted me on the stand. Well, here I 
was with at least twenty thousand people around me, 
yelling at the top of their voices, "He's a blacksmith, 
he's a blacksmith, go on, go on, I know that you can 
speak." Here I was, a plain, humble mechanic, that 
had never made a speech in all my life, to more than 
a few dozen people and they my acquaintances. — 
What was I to do with thousands of well educated 
men around ? If I said nothing they would think I 
was a fool ; if I made a speech I could only make a 
fool of myself, so I concluded to pitch in, and pitch in 
I did. 

As luck would have it, I saw before me Sam. Medary, 
the editor of the leading Democratic paper in Ohio. 



—43— 

This Medary had been State printer, a few years be- 
fore, and had u?ed the outside quires of the paper be- 
longing to the Slate without giving any account of it, 
which amounted to several hundred dollars, which the 
Whigs made him pay for when they got the control of 
the State a few years after. This circumstance gave 
Sam. the name of the "Outside Quires," and every man 
in the State knew him by that name. So I concluded 
to pitch into him to begin with by telling a dream I 
had made up on him. I said : 

Gentlemen — "I see before me my old and worthy 
friend Sam. Medary. I am glad to see you Sam. for I 
had a very singular dream about you last night. I 
dreamed that I was coming to this Convention, and 
met the devil who said to me ''where are you going 
Bear," said I to Columbus, to the Whig Convention. — 
Why, said he, "I thought the Whig's were all divided, 
some for Harrison, some for Clay, and some for John 
McLean and so on," said I "they were divided before 
the National Convention, but they are all united now. 
He said : "This will never do," and calling a dozen or 
two of his little imps that were around him, said : 
"boys I want you to go through Ohio, divide the 
Whig's, separate them if possible, if you can't do it 
any other way, lie them out of it." They started and 
he turned to me and said : "bye the bye, when did you 
see my old and worthy friend Sam. Medary," said I "a 
few days ago." "Well, what is Sam. doing now-adays," 
"he is editing the Ohio Statesman said I." "What !" 
said he in surprise, "is Sam. Medary at the head of 
that paper," and turning around said at the top of his 
voice, "come back boys, comeback, if Sam. Medary is 
at the head of the Ohio Statesman, and can't lie the 
Whig's out of it, all the devils in hell can't do it, so it 
is no use of your going." 

This raised a shout among the crowd, when Sam. 
looked up and said : "that's a lie." I took hold of my 
coat and said : "say that again Sam. and I'll take off 



the outside quires for you ; " this was too much for the 
crowd, they all understood it, I thought they would 
tear up the earth on which they stood, with their long 
continued shouts, and before they subsided, Sam. had 
to leave, it became too hot for him, so I had the field 
all to myself, when I pitched into Van Buren's weakest 
points and made the best of it that I could. 

When I concluded my speech and came from the 
stand, my friends and many of the crowd p]^athered 
around me, so much so, that I had fears that they 
would crush me to death in their eagerness to shake 
hands with me, and congratulate me upon my success 
as a speaker. Col. Cochran, as soon as he could, got 
me away from the crowd, when thousands of them fol- 
lowed me with the wildest enthusiasm, determined to 
shake me by the hand, as they said, they had never 
seen such a blacksmith. At length he got me in a 
house of one of his acquaintances, where he had a 
chance to talk to me. He told me that I had that day 
made a man of myself, that I had immortalized my 
name, and that he felt proud of me as a citizen of his 
town. 

Col. Cochran was a worthy citizen of our town, and 
I felt proud of his good opinion of me. After some 
time spent with hirn I left and went to the lower part of 
town and stayed all night with a friend of mine (a black- 
smith.) During that night I heard nothing more 
about the blacksmith, but by daylight the Whig com- 
mittee of Columbus had found me, wdien to my sur- 
prise I was surrounded by a body of the leading men of 
the State, enquiring who and what I was. They said 
the whole town had been in the wildest excitement all 
night about me, and that Sam. Medary had devoted 
the half of his paper in abusing me, and they said that 
I must be of some acc(;unt or Sam. would not have de- 
voted so much time and space to me. 

" Well, gentlemen," said I, " you see me as I am, 
a plain mechanic, with but little education, and all 



—45— 

that I know I have learned of such men as you; as 
regards my speaking, I never made a speech in my 
life until yesterday, unless it was at a school-house meet- 
ing, and I suppose that my popularity grows out of 
the fiict, that I am a plain working man." They at 
once said, that I must be announced as one of the 
speakers from the main stand, so that the most of the 
people could hear me. After considerable talk I very 
reluctantly agreed to the arrangement, and by ten 
o'clock, the hour the convention met, I was placarded 
ail over town, as the Pickaway Blacksmith, to speak 
as the second speaker at the main stand. (I was a 
citizen of Pickaway county, hence the above title.) 

But Prentiss of the Louisville Journal, soon after 
that, gave me the title of the Buckeye Blacksmith, in 
honor of Ohio, which was called the Buckeye^state, 
and which name I have always borne since. 

At the appointed hour the convention met ; I had 
prepared a boy with a blacksmith's tongs, and a basin 
of water, some soap and a towel. When it was my 
turn to speak, I stepped forward, with leather apron 
on, sleeves rolled up, and tongs in hand, ready for 
business, amid the shouts of the multitude. When 
order was restored, I said, " Gentlemen of the conven- 
tion, I have a very dirty job to do, so I have my tongs 
with me, as you see." Medary's paper was lying on 
the stand, I lifted it up with the tongs, read a short 
paragraph from it, and then let it fall, and wiped my 
feet on it, then called for soap and water, washed the 
tongs and sent them to their owner, as I said, without 
defiling them with such a dirty thing as Sam. Meda- 
ry's paper. This caused the wildest excitement 
I ever saw ; I repeated much that I had said the day 
before, bu t the people were too much excited to notice it. 

I would here state, that I have no doubt but that 
my little spat with Medary the day before, and his 
severe attack on me in his paper that morning had 
very much to do in giving me the great notoriety that 



—46— 

has since followed me as a speaker. Had not Medary 
attacked me as he did, the Whigs would never have 
found rae, and I should have gone home as others 
did, went to work and never have been known out of 
my own county, but his unmanly attack put the 
Whigs to investigating me, which resulted in my 
being placed before the public as one of their speakers, 
a position I have occupied ever since. Therefore what- 
ever popularity I have ever attained, I owe it all to 
Sam. Medary. 

When I came from the stand that day I was over- 
whelmed with congratulations by the leading Whigs 
of Ohio, as also of other States. That night meetings 
were held at various places about town, and I spoke 
at two of them, one at the Buckeye House, and the 
other at the Market House. It was at this last meet- 
ing I first met our present distinguished soldier and 
statesman, General Schenck. 

After the meetings were over myself and company 
left for home, where we arrived about sunrise next 
mjrning. It was no sooner known, that I had gotten 
home, than all my neighbours without regard to party 
or sex flocked around me to congratulate me upon 
my great success (as they said) at Columbus the last 
two days. Col. Cochran was spokesman and made a 
little speech of welcome to which I had to reply. This 
was the hardest job of my life, to reply to the eulogies 
of my near neighbors, but I did it. They said, just 
right ; at anyrate I did the best I could, when they 
all left, highly elated. 

It was Saturday, the 23d of February that I arrived 
at home, and by two o'clock three committees were 
after me to go with them to speak ; one of them was 
from Lancaster, one from Chillicothe, and one from 
Portsmouth. They would take no denial, go I must. 
I fixed up, put a man in ray shop, and went with the 
Lancaster committee to speak for them that night — 
with a promise to speak at Chillicothe on Monday and 



—47— 

Portsmouth on Tuesday, and then return home and 
go to work, but alas! in this I was much mistaken, 
as I did not return until the day of election, the sec- 
ond of November, just in time to vote. 

The Democrats of Lancaster had prepared a quack 
doctor to speak against me, so on the way over, the 
committee who had me in charge, posted me on this 
fellow. He knew but little, and did not know that I 
was in possession of every act of his life. So when he 
pitched into me, I got up in turn and gave a full his- 
tory of his life, which was not a very creditable one, 
amid the shouts and laughter of the whole crowd. — 
When the place became too hot for him, he left, swear- 
ing that we were all a set of d d blackguards. 

This caused another roar of laughter. I then had the 
field to myself, when I asked if they had any other 
doctor for me to desect, if they had to bring him on, 
while my knife was sharp, and my hand was in; when 
all was over, my friends gathered around me, congratu- 
lating me on my success in driving this doctor from 
the field. The Democrats were ashamed of him, and 
said they hoped he would never attempt to speak again. 

Before day on Monday morning they started me in 
a carriage to Chillicothe, where I arrived by noon, 
amidst the shouts of the people that were gathered at 
the hotel where I was to stay. By two o'clock there 
was a large crowd at the Court House where I was to 
speak, all anxious to hear and see the blacksmith, for 
my fame had got there before me. The Democrats 
denied that I was the blacksmith the Whigs said I 
was, and had got a stage driver who knew me to con- 
front me, when I would begin to speak ; well the stage 
driver came forward and looked at me, then turned 
to his friends and said "be damned if he aint the same 
man," when the leading ones of the party began to 
drop their heads and sneak away. When I was made 
acquainted with their game, I said to the driver "walk 
upon the stand my friend, if you please, I wish to see 



—48— 

you a moment." He came forward when I said "I 
presume that you are a Democrat, but that don't matter. 
Is this true," showing him a short article in a paper of 
that place, printed that morning, charging me with 
being a drunken loafer. He looked at it and promptly 
said, **No sir, its a lie, if our own paper does say it." 
"Thank you sir," I said, "I knew you were an honest 
man if you are a Democrat, did you ever see or hear 
any thing against me as a man." He said he never 
did. Then said I, "Gentlemen out of their own mouth 
have I convicted them, v;hy is it that they have attack- 
ed me in the manner they have. Is it because said I, 
they are opposed to a working man thinking and act- 
ing for himself 

I left Chillicothe next morning and arrived at Ports- 
mouth that afternoon, where I found other committees 
awaiting to take me to Kentucky. There w^as a large 
meeting that night and I so„stirred up the Democracy, 
that several of them w'anted to ask questions at a time. 
I was so well posted on all great questions of the day, 
that they found it up-hill business to begin with me. 
The leading Whigs of every place I went, posted me 
upon every Democrat in their town, so that I had the 
advantage of them, for they knew nothing against me, 
and I knew all about them, therefore whenever any of 
them said anything regarding myself, I would pitch in- 
to them on private matters, that would generally floor 
them. 

I had intended to go home from there, and go to 
work again, but that was no go, the Kentuckians were 
determined to take me to Maysville, and had a steam- 
boat with them for that purpose. So my friends in 
Portsmouth made up some cash to send home, and I 
concluded to go with the Kentuckians. We had a gay 
time going down the river, and I began to think I was 
some pumpkins. I liad been so carressed and flattered 
for the past week, that I had become quite conceited. 
At any rate I feared none of them on the stump. At 



—49— 

Maysville we had a find meeting, but here I found a 
strong opposition as well as the most bitter set of Dem- 
ocrats 1 had ever met. On returning from the meet- 
ing that night three of their rowdies attacked me strik- 
ing at me with a chib, I warded off the blow, drew a 
pistol (for I had two of them) and pulled away at 
them, and struck one of them in the hand, when they 
took to their heels and run away, and had me arrested, 
but I was discharged at once. 

The next day I was taken to a large meeting of the 
old soldiers that had served under Harrison in the war, 
which was held some miles from Maysville, in the in- 
terior of the state, at a place called Washington. At 
this meeting I first met Geo. D. Prentiss, and it was 
at that meeting I first got the name of the Buckeye 
Blacksmith, which I ever bear. Here I met a large 
number of Harrison's old soldiers, as well as many of 
the distinguished men of Kentucky, to whom I related 
some of the incidents of my early life, particularly 
those that referred to Mr. Clay. This alone made me 
very popular with them. 

At this meeting I met a Committee from Cincin- 
nati, who took me with them to that city, to speak at 
their ratification meeting that was to take place on the 
following Tuesday. Here I had a day or two to rest, 
which I very much needed. The meeting was a great 
success ; the papers had extolled me, as it were, to the 
top of the ladder, until public curiosity was at its pitch, 
to see and hear me. After the meeting I attended a 
reception at Judge Burnets. This was my first intro- 
duction into high life, and it made me feel very 
awkward at first, but I soon got acquainted with their 
manners and customs. I here met a young lady by the 
name of Ohurber, who had heard me speak that night, 
and had carefully noted down all my grammatical 
errors ; she politely pointed them out to me, and gave 
me the proper words to use, which I never after forgot. 
Gen. Harrison was there, as well as most of the dis- 
*3 



—50— 

tinguished men of Cincinnati; they gave me much 
information. They formed themselves into a Com- 
mittee, and said from what they had seen and heard of 
me, that I would be a valuable speaker in that cam- 
paign, and that I must not think of going home, but 
continue speaking until the election, which I consented 
to do. So in a day or two they had provided me with 
all the documents they could, and I left for Kentucky, 
to speak a few times there until meetings could be got 
ready for me in different large towns in Ohio, where I 
was to stay until the first of May, and then go to Vir- 
ginia and Pennsylvania. They dressed me up pretty 
nicely before I started, and gave me a letter addressed 
to the Whigs of Louisville, to which place I went, 
where I met a most cordial welcome. It was very 
laughable to see the Democrats peeping into the parlor 
or around the corners at me, then going away, saying, 
"all but a blacksmith," why that fellow is a gentle- 
man. I never saw so much peeping in all my life ; 
even when I would be walking the streets, they would 
come running from every direction, just to get a look 
at me. Many of them went away swearing that I was 
a lawyer in disguise. Some said : "he's a member of 
Congress !" and others said I was a minister. All this 
speculation was owing to my new suit of clothes, that 
my friends had given me. When night came, they all 
made a rush for the meeting ; when I was introduced 
to them, I told them, that 1 was a plain man, with a 
very limited education, and they, therefore, must not 
expect a very flowery speech from me. 

Prentiss, with all the leading men of the city, had 
been closeted with me pretty much all day, posting me 
on all the leading questions, that they wished me to 
speak upon, as well as upon all the leading Democrats 
of the place. I had an excellent memory, that en- 
abled me to follow out their plans, so that when I got 
through with my speech, many of the people were 
astonished at the manner in which I had handled both, 



—51— 

the question, as well as the thrashing I had given the 
leading Democrats. 

Mr. Van Buren had two very weak points — his 
Sub-Treasury scheme, and his Army Bill — and on 
these points I made my attack ; and in all cases fast- 
ened my Sam. Medary's dream on the leading Demo- 
cratic paper of every place where I spoke. 

When I left Louisville, I visited Frankford, the 
Capital of the State, where I met with a warm recep- 
tion and was lionized by all the dignatary's, both male 
and female in the place. I spoke to a large meeting 
in the State house and was much applauded by the 
ladies for my complimentary remarks on female influ- 
ence. I left there with the good wishes of all my 
friends and the curses of my enemies (the Democrats). 

I then went to Lexington, the home of Mr. Clay, 
where I received one of the warmest receptions, except 
two or three, that I have ever met in my travels. All 
the people appeared to try to outdo each other in kind- 
ness to me, even the Democrats seemed unwilling to let 
the Whigs outdo them in courtesy. 

Mr. Clay was at Washington city at the time, and 
therefore I did not see him, but visited his family and 
was treated very kindly by them. Mrs. Clay, was one 
of the finest ladies that I ever met. My meeting there 
was a grand success, for at this meeting I related the 
little incidents connected with Mr. Clay and myself in 
early life, and gave him the credit of making me all 
that I was or ever expected to be. This alone, made 
me a Lion instead of a Bear. I left Lexington and 
spoke at one or two other places on my route to Ohio. 
I arrived back in Cincinnati about ten days after 
leaving there, ready to fill a series of appointments at 
the principle towns along the Miama river. At Day- 
ton I fell in with a shoemaker, who bantered me to 
discuss the questions of the day with him. I accepted 
the banter, but when I had learned that he was an in- 
fidel in his religious views, I said that I would not hold 



—52— 

a discussion with a man that did not hold himself 
responsible to God for his words and actions. They 
then brought out another fellow, that had but little 
brains ; I soon floored him, and that night, as I was 
going to my hotel, from a friends house, at a late hour, 
I met two of the Democratic rowdies, who insulted me 
as I passed them. I turned on them, and told them 
that I generally thrashed men in my country for talk- 
ing to me in that way. They laughed at me, when I 
hauled away at one of them and laid him out, the 
other took the best course that he could, for he took to 
his heels and ran off. 

From Dayton I visited all the large sized towns in 
the interior of Ohio. Every place I went I met a most 
hearty welcome from the Whigs, who took great pains 
in instructing me on all the topics of the day. During 
all this time Medary was pouring his abuse on me, 
which only served to make me the more popular with 
all right minded men. 

I would here state, that if ever I lose my self-respect, 
or confidence in my own integrity, it will be when 
Democratic papers speak well of me. One thing that 
made them hate me worse than all others, was that I 
never charged anything on them or their party, that 
I was not prepared to prove by authentic documents. 
This is a rule that I have always adhered to, for many 
times have I came in contact with their speakers, when 
they would make wholesale attacks on me and my 
party, and when called on for the proofs, they could 
not produce them, and 1 would floor them on that 
point. The Whig leaders had furnished me with every 
document that was necessary to a successful campaign ; 
I had half a cart load of them. By constant practice 
and the instructions I received daily from the leading 
Whigs in Ohio, and members of Congress who were 
furnishing me with the documents, I had so improved 
in speaking that I had no fears of any man, and was 
no longer timid before the great men of the country. 



—53— 

I was at length through with ray Ohio appointm-eiits, 
fur the present, and was preparing to make my way to 
Virginia. On my arrival in Wheeling, Virgniia, I 
found them" making great preparation to receive me, 
for ray fame had by this time spread through the en- 
tire country. Everybody wanted to see and hear the 
blacksmith, (Barnum in his palmiest days was not 
half so much sought after.) They had a large stand 
put up and seats for the ladies ; they too, wers anxious 
to see and hear me. Well, when I came on the stage, 
a servant with me to help carry my books and docu- 
ments, the whole of the people raised a shout, and 
some swore that I was a book-pedler, in place of a 
blacksmith. One fellow sung out to me, "Can you 
shoe a horse ?" "Yes," says I "as well as any man in 
your State." This raised another shout and waving 
of handkerchiefs. "We'll try you when you are done 
speaking," said he, "all right," said I." "For I can 
not only shoe horses, but can shoe mules, so you had 
better be there if you wish to be shod by a master work- 
man." I have never seen or heard of that fellow since. 
I went from there to Wellsville, some miles up the 
river, next day, and had a meeting and got along 
finely ; and from Wellsville I took a boat for Pitts- 
burg, Pa., arriving there in the evening. I put up at 
a hotel, enquired of the landlord where I could find 
some of the active Whigs of the place, as I was not 
announced for a meeting, yet I thought I would see 
them that night. He told me that there was a meet- 
ing at Liberty Hall that evening, if I would go there 
I would see them all. He directed me where to find 
the Hall, and when I arrived they had already organ- 
ized and were waiting for a speaker. No person knew 
that I was in the city. Just as I worked my way to 
the stand, the President asked if some person would 
please make a few remarks until the speakers came. 
I thought this a good opportunity to make myself 
known, so I stepped on the stand, and said, that I would 



—54— 

entectain the audience until their speakers came. Tell 
me sir, when they comeanri I willsto(3. I comuienced 
by pitching into a rlijty little paper of that city, that 
had been abusing me for a week or two back, and then 
commenced to desect Van Buren. After speaking a 
half hour or more, I said : " tell me when your 
speakers come, if you please/' but the crowd whom I 
had kept in a roar of laughter all the time, cried out, 
"go on, go on !" until I started again and spoke alto- 
gether over an hour, when I closed amid the wildest 
excitement. 

The moment I closed the speakers, who had heard 
the most of my speech, and a number of the leading 
Whigs of the city, came forward, and said: "We 
wish, sir, to congratulate you upon your success to- 
night, and to ask if you are not the blacksmith from 
Ohio." I told them that I thanked them for their 
congratulations, and that I was the blacksmith they 
spoke of The President at once announced to the 
meeting that I was the genuine Ohio Blacksmith that 
they had been reading about for the past few weeks, 
when all hands, speakers and all, cried out for another 
speech, and I had to step on the stand and make them 
another short speech, when we adjourned to meet the 
next night in a grand mass meeting in the DiamoFid 
Market Square. The next morning this little dirty 
Democratic sheet gave me a column of extracts from 
Sam. Medary's paper, for which I paid him that night 
at Market Square to his hearts content. Our meet- 
ing was a fine one and all seemed satisfied. I left in 
a day or two for the East, with a promise to go through 
the county later in the campaign which I did. I was 
to open the campaign the ^Ist of June, in Philadel- 
phia, and remain in Pennsylvania until the October 
election, so I concluded to make ray way to Maryland, 
and spend a few days in my native place. 

I left Pittsburg by the way of Washington, Browns- 
ville and Uniontown, speaking at each place to large 



—55— 

crowds. Nothing unusual occurred until I got to 
Brownsville, where I had a fuss with a drover, who 
pretended he knew me, and that he knew something 
about me, but refused to say what it was ; I took him 
by the throat, shook him a little, until he was fright- 
ened half out of his wits, and he let me alone after that. 

When I got to Uniontown I met Andrew Stewart, 
whom I had known before, as also L. W. Stockton 
whom I had once worked for when quite young. He 
at once recognized me and made a great ado over me. 
He could hardly believe his own eyes, he said he could 
never have believed that I was the boy who had work- 
ed for him. When I went to the Court House to 
speak, the Sheriff, who was a Democrat, refused to let 
me in the house, because he said that I carried pistols, 
when I told him that I not only carried them but that 
I would use them if he, or any of his crew interfered 
with me. Messrs. Stewart and Stockton influenced the 
County Commisioners to give us the Court House, 
where I made the first regular Tariff speech that I 
had attempted to make during the campaign ; my 
usual course was to tear down Van Buren, and build 
up Harrison, by attacking Van Buren's weak points, 
and building up Harrison's strong ones. This I found 
had the best effect. 

I left Uniontown with flying colors and spoke at 
Smithfield and Frostburg, Md., on my road to Cum- 
berland, where they had made great preparation to 
receive me, in my native State. Here I was met by 
Committees from Hagerstowu and Frederick, inviting 
me to speak for them. I made appointments with 
them for a few meetings, and when I left Cumberland, 
I went to the Berkeley Springs, in Virginia, to rest a 
few days until my Maryland meetings were ready. — 
While at the Springs I was met by the Philadelphia 
Committee who were determined to take me home with 
them, in order to have me there by the 21st of June, 
which was some two weeks ahead. After hearing my 



—56— 

arrangements in Maryland, they concluded to travel 
with me. So we went to Hagerstown, where we had 
a gay time. The Philadelphia boys had plenty of 
money, and spent it freely, and they became very 
popular with the people of Maryland. The next day 
we all went to a mass meeting at Sharpsburg, a town 
that has since been made historical by the late rebel- 
lion. At this meeting I met a brother that I had not 
seen for many years, who was a Democrat, and had 
come twenty miles to see if I was his brother. He no 
sooner saw me, than he came upon the stand, took me 
by the hand, and said : "brother John how are you," 
I hope you will forgive me for being heretofore a 
Democrat, for since you have been so much abused by 
my party as you have been, I will never vote another 
Democratic ticket while I live." I said "amen," and 
turning to the Democratic part of the audience said: 
'•go ahead Democrats for every lie you tell on me you 
will drive some of my relations or other honest men 
from your ranks," and I knew of no better way to 
make Harrison votes than to distribute Democratic 
documents among the people, for I have always con- 
tended that the mass of the people; without regard to 
their religious or political views were honest, and 
would vote right if correctly informed. I told them 
that the Democratic party were afraid of the truth, 
they reminded me of an Irishman that was brought 
into Court for some offense that he had committed, 
when he began to cry ; his lawyer being a humane man, 
as lawyers generally are, told him not to cry, he hoped 
to have justice done him, when the Irishman cried 
out, "be me souel Justice is what I'm afraid of." So 
it is with the Democratic party, they fear the truth, 
hence their lies. This raised a shout among the crowd, 
while many of the leading Democrats went away 
swearing vengeance on me. 

The same night I spoke at Boonsboro, a few miles 
from there. Spoke at a large meeting, and the next 



—57— 

day visited my brother and spoke at Middletown, 
near where he lived ; I had also an uncle there, whom 
I had not seen since my boyhood days. Here I had a 
fine time, as most of the people in Middletown and in 
that vicinity were Whigs, and are Republicans to this 
day. I. was to si^eak in Frederick the next night, and 
concluded to go there in disguise, therefore I sent my 
Philadelphia friends ahead and I walked, arriving 
there just at dark, and stopped at a small tavern at 
the edge of town and asked for supper, when I was 
told that it would be ready in a few minutes. The 
landlord remarked to me that they were going to have 
a great time in town that night, for the great Whig 
Blacksmith, of Ohio, was to speak there, and that the 
Whigs were making preparations for a grand display. 
**Ah !" said I, "is that so, have you ever seen this 
Blacksmith." "No," said he, "I never have, but in- 
tend to not only see but hear him to-night, if I am a 
Democrat." The supper bell rang about this time, 
when we all, (some twenty in number,) took our seats 
at the table. Soon after we were seated, a gentleman 
at my side, asked me if ever I had seen this black- 
smith, I told him that I had often seen him. "Well, 
what sort of a man is he ?" the papers tell some pretty 
hard things on him ; are they true or not." Well, 
sir, that is more than I can say, I suppose that he is 
like the most of us, has his good and bad traits of 
character. The landlord here spoke up and said, my 
rule is never to condemn a man until I know some- 
thing about him myself; I am told that i:e is a Fred- 
erick county man, and has respectable connections, 
therefore I wish to see and hear for myself "That's 
right," said I, when several others said, "they never be- 
lieved all they read in political papers. "Nor I either," 
said I. Just then a fellow on the opposite side of the 
table said, "gentlemen, -if you knew as much about 
him as I, you would not have a very good opinion of 
him, I know him well, I only live a short distance 



—58- 

from him. "Ah !" said I, "then you know whether 
these s::ories they tell oii him are true or not." "They 
are all true, and the half has not been told, he is not a 
blacksmith at all but a miserable drunken lawyer 
that would plead a case for fifty cents to get whisky 
with." "Is it }30ssible," I said, "I suppose you have 
often seen him." "Oh ! yes, nearly every day," said 
he, (oh how I wished to maul him, but concluded to 
carry on the joke.) "Well," said I, "the most of those 
stories are generally gotten up for political effect, for 
if they were true, parties would not countenance such 
imposters." "That is true" said several of those present, 
but he insisted that these stories were all true to his 
knowledge. By this time supper was over, and I paid 
my bill and left. When I arrived at the meeting it 
was already organized and the Chairman was telling 
the people that I would soon be there, it was early yet. 
I told a gentleman by my side to tell him that I was 
in the crowd, when he invited me on the stand, and 
introduced me to the great mass of men and women 
that had congregated to see and hear me. I took off 
my coat and began to roll up my sleeves, when an old 
fellow sung out, "I'll bet fifty dollars he's a black- 
smith by the way he rolls up his sleeves." When or- 
der was restored I turned to the audieiKje, and to my 
surprise I saw the whole party that I had met at the 
tavern, standing right in front of me. The landlord 
and a few of the others were smiling, but my Ohio 
friend looked as if he could crawl out of the little end 
of a tin horn. I commenced by making an apology 
to the audience for keeping them waiting so long, by 
telling them that I had been so agreeably entertained 
at the hotel, where I had taken my supper, by a pre- 
tended acquaintance of mine from Ohio, that the time 
had passed unnoticed, and I am proud to see him as 
well as the other guests of the hotel now here. I 
then related all the conversation as it occurred at the 
supper-table, amid the wildest shouts of laughter, the 



—59— 

guests as well as the landlord enjoyed the joke as well 
as the rest of the crowd, for I had spoken well of them. 
I told the people that thie fellow was there, and, there- 
fore, they had better look well to their pocket-books, 
and lock their stables and hen coops when they went 
home. This was too much for my Ohio friend. He 
was soon missing and I never had the pleasure of 
meeting him after that night. 

I made my speech and was warmly congratulated 
by the elite of the city. I would here state that I had 
often heard it said, "that a prophet^ is not without 
honor save in his own country," this was not the case 
on this occasion, for the first families of Maryland, such 
as the Pitts, McPherson's and Schleys, all took me by 
the hand and bid me a hearty welcome back to my 
native land. This was the grandest reception I ever 
met with during all my travels in life, and I feel proud 
of it to this day. 

Next morning I made a horse-shoe at an old Demo- 
crats shop, in the presence of a large crowd, he was 
offered ten dollars for the shoe, but he said if he was a 
Democrat he would never part with that shoe, I 
agreed to visit the county again later in the Campaign, 
which I did, and the next morning left with my Phil- 
adelphia friends for Harrisburg on their route home, 
where we arrived safely the second day after. 




CHAPTER III. 

MY CAMPAIGN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 

AFTER my arrival in Philadelphia I had a day or 
two to rest prior to our gieat meeting that was to 
come off on the 21st of June. The committee gave 
me quarters at the Madison House in Second street, in 
order to have me in a quiet place, where none but the 
leading men knew where to find me, until the day of 
the meeting. All the leading politicians of that day, 
in the city, visited me during those few days and post- 
ed me on all the various topics they wished me to talk 
upon; among them were the great E. Joy Morris, 
Charles Nailor, Jas. R. Chandler, J. P. Wethered and 
many others whose names do not occur to me at this 
distant day. 

I had become pretty well posted on all questions that 
were connected with general politics, but needed some 
posting in the affairs of Pennsylvania, so as to be able 
to meet the questions that were peculiarly adapted to 
that section of the country. This they gave me, so by 
the time that the meeting came off the people were 
astonished to find me, a poor uneducated mechanic, 



— 6t— 

from a distant State, so well posted on all the affliirs 
of that country. Many of them came to me after I 
had spoken to know where or how I had gotten hold 
of so much information concerning the affairs of Penn- 
sylvania. I generally told them that we blacksmiths 
in the West were all the time prying into other peoples 
business. Many a laugh we had over the way I got 
so much information on the affairs of the old Key- 
stone State. 

The day of the great meeting arrived and at the ap- 
pointed hour Independance Square was packed with 
people, they had come from all quarters of the State 
as well as from New Jersey and Delaware, to see and 
hear the blacksmith. There were but few blacksmiths 
in all that region of the country that were not there, 
as well as other mechanics; it was a new thing to them. 
I suppose, that I was among the first that ever took 
such an active part in politics. 

The first speaker that day was Mr. Alford of Geor- 
gia, he said, "I am not a blacksmith myself, but my 
father was one, so you see I understand a little about 
the business, at any rate I think I am able to act as 
helper or striker for the boss; which yoa know is ne- 
cessary in doing a goof^Job of work. So I will blow 
the bellows aji4 neat the iron for him and then let him 
finish ^.iie job himself." He then went on and gave a 
, gllort history of me, and finished with an appeal to the 
working men to stand by me, for I was their best friend. 
He said "this man will show you that labor should 
own capital, and not capital own labor, as is too much 
the case all over our country, as well as through the 
entire old world. He will show you that you ought to 
be protected in your industry against the pauper labor 
of the old world, which the Democrats deny to you m 
and out of Congress, and still have the hardihood to 
ask you for your votes," with this he closed. 

I was then introduced amid the wildest shouts and 
huzzas I ever heard. I took off my coat, rolled up 



—62— 

my sleeves, and commenced by saying, that in appear- 
ing before tliera to-day, that I labored under many 
disadvantages, for I was a stranger to them all, and 
only a plain, unassuming mechanic, with a very limi- 
ted education, and therefore could not give them a 
very flowery speech. I only know a half dozen of 
those big words that most speakers use, and I hardly 
ever undertake to climxb up very high to get at them, 
for fear that I might have some trouble in getting down 
again, so I generally let them alone. This raised a 
great shout; I told them I would give them a plain 
talk, that I would put the questions fairly and plainly 
before them, and in doing so I should speak the plain, 
unvarnished truth, and nothing else. With one voice 
they seemed to call out *' that's just what we want to 
hear." I then began by showing up Van Buren's Ar- 
my-Bill and when I finished that point, asked them 
" do you want that, gentlemen ? " " No ! no ! " was 
the cry. I read his message to prove my point. 

I then took up' his Sub-Treasury scheme, showed 
that up and said, "do you want this, gentlemen?" 

" No ! to h 1 mid him," shouted an Irishman in 

the crowd. Well this is what Mr. Van Buren offers 
you, and here is his message to prove it, although the 
Democrats of Pennsylvania deny it, do they not? — 
" Yes, they do," said a thousand voices in the crowd. 
Well, said I, they dare not meet me and deny that Mr. 
Van Buren wrote this messas^e, and recommended to 
Congress to pass the Bills that I have just read. I 
shall stay in the City a few days, at the Madison House, 
where they can find me at any time they wish. They 
must not wait until I leave the City and say that it 
was all a Whig lie, or I will come back and punch 
some of their heads for them. At this I had to wait 
five minutes for the crowd to get through with their 
laugh, some were shouting up to me, saying, " that's 
right, I like a man that has pluck." 

I then took the subject of Protection to American 



— G3— 

Industry, showing them that it wps the laboring man 
who needed it ; the rich could live without, but the 
poor could not. I told them that the poor man loved 
his wife and children as well as the rich man loved his, 
and was as fond of seeing his family well fed and well 
clothed as the rich man. How is he to feed and clothe 
his family unless he is paid a fair price for his labor ; 
he never can. " No never," said many of them. Do 
you men of family, wish to work for the wages that is 
paid to the slaves and serfs of foreign countries? if not, 
vote for protection to your own labor, vote for the party 
that w^ill give it to you, throw aside your politics when 
the interests of yourself and family are at stake. A 
man must be a fool that gives his vote against his best 
interests, dont you think so, fellow workingmen ? Theie 
was one shout of " yes ! yes ! " If you are opposed to 
free trade and low wages you must vote for Harrison, 
for Mr. Van Buren will never give you anything else. 

I went on in this strain of argument for near three 
hours when my voice failed me and I had to close. 

When I was through I had to be taken away in a 
hack to keep my friends from shaking my arm oft'.-^ 
The whole crowd seemed to be crazy with excitement, 
and hundreds followed me to my hotel in order to shake 
me by the hand, and I have no doubt but that I shook 
hands during that day and evening with five thousand 
men. The next day I spent my time in making ar- 
rangements with the committee to open the campaign 
through the state, commencing at Philadelphia. On 
the fourth of July I was to speak in Washington city, 
Baltimore, and a few other places in Maryland in the 
interval, so as to give time to get up a meeting in 
Pennsylvania. 

Several members of Congress were present at my 
meeting in Philadelphia and took me to Washington 
with them, where I had a monster meeting at the City 
Hall steps. Mr. Van Buren heard me speak at this 
meeting, and was very much amused at some of my 



•—64— 

anecdotes that I told on him, and said to Mr. Critten- 
den that he never heard a man speak, that could carry 
the people away with him, better than I could ; he 
said that with a few such men as I was in the free 
States, the Whigs could beat any man the Democrats 
could get up at this time, for it was a new thing for a 
working man to speak at public meetings, and would 
take a powerful hold upon men of that class, and of 
such men the Democratic party is chiefly composed. — 
" Just see how they flock around him, he has got them 
all in a roar of laughter at me, this is the way to beat 
an opponent, get the people to laughing at him, and 
you have him whipped, this that blacksmith can do." 

The next day Mr. Crittenden told me all that Van 
Buren had said, which I tried to improve on after that, 
through the whole campaign. 

After I concluded my speech I was taken in charge 
by the Ohio delegation in Congress, and feasted and 
flattered for a day or tw^o, when I was invited to a grand 
party, given by Ex-President Adams at his residence 
in Washington, where I met many of the lea'ding men 
of the nation, who enjoyed my answers to the questions 
propounded to me by Mr. Adams and others that chose 
to put them to me. Mr. Adams said, "Mr. Bear I wish 
to ask you what induced you, a poor mechanic, to take 
such a stand in this campaign as you have taken." Said 
I, "the same reason sir, I suppose, that prompted you 
and all other great men in the country that ever took 
an active part in politics; it was to distinguish myself, 
I know of no other reason sir." 

This raised a roar of laughter at Mr. Adams expense. 
Some of those present, said "what do you think of the 
blacksmith now?" to Mr. Adams, when he said "it is 
a good answer, better than I expected," then turning to 
me, he said, "I think that you are able to hold your 
own with any of us. The party soon after that sepa- 
rated and went home. 

The next day every member of the Senate or House 



— 65— 

that I met at the Capitol, had something to say about 
the way that I answered Mr. Adams the night before, 
for it had spread all over both Houses belbre twelve 
o'clock next day. Many a laugh we had about it when 
I would meet some member at my meetings during the 
campaign. 

From Washington I came to Baltimore, and spoke 
at Monument Square, to one of the largest meetings 
that was ever held there. I was well received by the 
leading Whigs of the city, many of whom are dead, 
among those that are living who treated me in the 
kindest manner, was the Hon. Keverdy Johnson, who I 
am sorry to say some years after that, left our party 
and is acting with the Democratic party, but was a 
true Union man through the war. 

After my meeting in the Square, I returned to my 
hotel (the Exchange) now the Custom House; about 
eleven o'clock, three gentlemanly looking men called 
on me, and said they were a committee to invite me to 
a friend's house for a short time. I at first refused to 
go owing to the lateness of the hour, but finally con- 
cluded to go, as they said it was only a short square, 
just around the corner; we started but when we got in 
the street, they turned the wrong way to go to Balti- 
more street, when I began to conclude that all was not 
right, and said gentlemen, I don't intend to go Avith you 
down that street, for that is not the course you told me 
your friend lived, when they said "its all right, so come 
along, you put us to the trouble to come after you, and 
you must not back out now." I said, "gentlemen you 
see that I do not want to go, now if you are my friends 
you ought not ask me to go, and if you are not my 
friends, I ought not go with you. At which one of 
them took hold of my arm, and said you must go, and 
began to pull me, when I pulled loose from him and 
drew a pistol and said "stand back or I'll shoot you," 
and then turned back into the hotel. When they had 
run away, none of the persons appeared to know them 



—66 — 

that were in the hotel. We at once made search for 
them but they could not be found. The street they 
wished me to go, led directly to a dock that was but 
a few yards off. I have never had a doubt but that 
they intended to throw me in the dock and drov/n me, 
for no person could ever be found that would acknow- 
ledi^e that they were the committee. 

The next day I went to Ellicotts Mills to speak and 
about the time that I got fairly under way, a parcel of 
Democrats tried to break up our meeting, and when 
they found they could do it in no other way, they got 
a locomotive and run it up and down by our stand blew 
the whistle so as to prevent the people hearing me, and 
finally we had to adjourn. They then bantered me to 
meet one of their speakers the next day, in a joint dis- 
cussion, but not until they found that I was to speak 
at Elkton, fifty miles from there on that day. This 
was a small game they often tried to play on me but 
sometimes when I had to speak at a small meeting I 
posponed it and met them, but in such cases they would 
mostly back out, by saying their speaker could not get 
ready in time, and would set a day ten days ahead 
when I would be many miles away at some other 
meeting. 

I left Baltimore the night of the day I spoke at Elli- 
cotts Mills and went to Elkton, and spoke there to a 
very good and orderly meeting, and was well received 
by the Whigs of that place. This was on the second 
day of July and I was to speak at Wilmington on the 
third, ready to be in Philadelphia by the fourth. I 
had made an arrangement with some gentlemen of 
Wilmington on the twentieth of June to be there that 
day, so as to give them time to prepare for a grand 
affair. Wiien I arrived there I found great prepara- 
tions being made for the meeting, and a grand affair 
it was, more so than it would have been, if it had not 
been for the reason that I will now state. 

The Democrats as soon as they found that I was to 



—67— 

be there, (which they du\, the day I promised the com- 
mittee that I woiihl come,) started a man by the name 
of Orr, post-haste to Ohio to the town that I lived in 
to get all the testimony against me that he could, (for 
they believed all that they had read in their papers) 
and when I would come and begin to speak, he v,'as to 
come and confront me with the testimony of my neigh- 
bours, (this man Orr was a good speaker.) Neither I 
or my friends knew anything about this arrangement. 
The Democrats had kept it very quiet, but had boasted 
that when I came there to speak they would have a 
man ready to floor me. This I heard talked around 
all the morning before the hour of meeting. Several 
low-priced Democrats gathered around where I was 
talking to some friends, and would say loud enough 
for me and my friends to hear, " has he got back yet? " 
" Where did he go ? " "I heard that he went to Bloom- 
field, Ohio." " Yes, that's the place," said another. — 
" Oh," said one, " he will be here in time, I'll bet you, 
it will be glorious sport, wont it ? " 

When the hour arrived for the meeting to commence 
the Democrats were there in a body, as well as the 
Whigs. I was introduced and made a long speech, 
and as soon as I closed, this man Orr stepped on the 
stand and asked to make a statement. Permission 
was given him to do so, when he made a full disclosure 
of all their plans, as well as his trip to Ohio in order 
to obtain the necessary proofs of my guilt and unwor- 
thiness as a man, to enable him to follow me where- 
ever I went, and expose me to the w'orld. He said he 
was an honest Democrat and felt determined, if what 
he had read about me was true, that the world should 
know it. " AYell, gentlemen," said he, "I have just 
returned from Ohio this morning," and turning to me 
said, " I have just returned from a visit to your neigh- 
bours, in South Bloomfield, Ohio, sir. I went there an 
honest man, to find out your character, and I have 
come back an honest man, with your full history." — 



—68— 

Here the Democrats raised a shout, expecting of course 
that I would be fuily exposed ; but oh, ye Gods, when 
he turned to the audience and in a loud voice declared 
that he was not able to find a Democrat, let alone a 
Whig, in the town that w^ould say or could say any- 
thing against me, the worst word he had heard against 
me was from an old Democrat, who said he wished I 
would stop running around and come home to my shop 
for he wanted his horses shod. At this stage of affairs 
the Whigs raised a shout, when some of the leading 
Democrats began to hunt a milder climate to cool off. 

Mr. Orr then said, " gentlemen, if this is the course 
my party intends to pursue, in order to elect Mr. Van 
Buren, whenever unable to meet an opponent to attack 
and destroy his private character, simply because he 
may be a plain, unassuming mechanic, it is high time 
that all honest laboring men should leave the party, 
and from this day I shall devote all the ability or 
talent that I may possess, to the election of General 
Harrison and the defeat of this sham Democracy,'* and 
from that day to the day of election he remained a 
firm friend of the Whig party. 

The Democrats as soon as they heard what Orr had 
to say, swore that the Whigs had bought him over, and 
at once began to traduce his character by saying all 
manner of hard things about him; this they did as well 
against him, as they did against me, in order to destroy 
what ever influence we might have as working men, 
with that class of voters in their party. They were 
not able to meet the great issue of that clay with either 
of us, hence they had no other course to pursue, than 
to attack our private character, but that course acted 
then, as it ahvays does, to the injury of those that at- 
tempt it. 

The Democratic party was then, as it now is, a nega- 
tive party, never originating any plan or idea of its 
own, but always opposing the ideas and plans of the 
opposite party. All Democrats can tell you what they 



—69— 

are opposed to, but very few can tell you what they 
are in favor of, unless they go to the county town and 
ask their leader, when he will tell thera equal rights to 
all men, and an honest administration of public affairs 
which is every word false, as I have shown you by the 
manner in which they tried to distroy me. Had I not 
a right to speak my sentiments as well as they had? 
Then why destroy me, if they are in favor of equal 
rights to all men? Are they in favor of an honest 
administration of public affairs? Look, I pray you, to 
day, at the two great cities of New York and Baltimore 
and then answer me that question. Bat I shall speak 
more fully upon this subject hereafter. The meeting 
at Wilmington was a grand success for the Whig party, 
and I think it will be a long time before the Demo- 
crats of Wilmington will pay another man's expenses 
to go to Ohio to hunt up my character, for fear they 
may catch another tarter like Orr proved to be. 

On the fourth I went to Philadelphia, where I was 
to speak five times during that day and evening, at 
different localities in the city and suburbs. The first 
place I spoke was in Vance's yard up Second street, at 
10 o'clock, A. M. Here they had a blacksmith's 
forge, bellows, anvil and tools, all arranged on a large 
platform out in the open air, where the multitude 
could see for themselves that I was a blacksmith, for 
this as the Democrats said could be proved that I was 
not. They said they had a man that knew me well 
and would confront me on the stand that day, and 
would prove that I was a fraud, hence the Whigs had 
fixed up this forge and tools to prove that the Demo- 
crats lied. Accordingly when the meeting was or- 
ganized, I took off my coat, rolled up my sleeves, put 
on a leather apron, and was introduced to the great 
meeting numbering not less than twenty-five thousand 
people. I said, "my friends and fellow countrymen, 
I am proud to see so many honest men and women as 
now stand before me, to the nailing of another lie to 



—70— 

the Democratic party. I am ready to work, as you 
see, what kind of a job do you wish me to do first? 
"make us a good horse shoe uail," said an old black- 
smith present, "certainly sir, I will," said I and com- 
menced and made a first rate one. What next gentle- 
men, for I want to beat work? "Make us a good horse 
shoe," said another; at it I went and very sjon had one 
made as good as any other man in the country could 
make. I held it up in my tongs, and said aloud "I 
would like to nail it on the Jackass that said I was 
not a blacksmith. This raised the greatest shout of 
applause Lever heard. When order was finally restor- 
ed I laid down my tools and spoke on the leading is- 
sues of the day,' for about an hour, and then left for an- 
other meeting in West Philadelphia, and from there 
to one in the South-eastern part of the city, and then 
out near Fairmount Water Works, und then winding 
up with a monster meeting on Smith's Island between 
Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. At this meet- 
ing I drank the first Champaign wine I ever drank ; 
they told me that it was Jersey cider and would not 
hurt me, so I drank it as free as water, but by the 
time I got to my hotel I found that my head was be- 
ginning to feel pretty light, so I went to bed without 
my supper and laid there two days before I got over 
it. This was my first indulgence in drinking to excess 
since I had been in the campaign, and I made up my 
mind that it would be the last, and it was during that 
campaign, for I have always thought if anything on 
earth looked ridiculous it was a public speaker drunk 
on the stand, trying to address a meeting, which none 
but Democrats often do. 

My next meeting was at Bristol, a few miles from 
Philaielphia, in Buck's county, where I had to speak 
to a Democratic audience, and the only way that I 
could get along there, was to get them to fighting 
among themselves; this I did by praising Jackson and 
the working men, and denouncing the leaders in that 



—71— 

town, as soon as any of them would interrupt me. I 
would say there is one of the leaders; he is afraid for 
you honest men to hear a workman speak ; this only 
made the leaders more anxious to interrupt me,^and 
poor men more anxious to hear me; at last I got them 
to fighting, when I left, believing that every one that 
got whipped would vote the Whig ticket to spite the 
man that licked him, which I afterwards heard they did. 
I then visited Chestnut Hill, in Philadelphia coun- 
ty, a place almost entirely Democratic; they had said 
that I should not speak there, and if I came there they 
would thrash me, but I went, and had about fifty of 
the best picked men in the city to back me. When 
we arrived there our few friends had a stand fixed up 
in good order, and I commenced by saying, gentle- 
men, I have come here to make a speech lo you, and 
I understand that you are all good Jackson men and 
if you are you may well feel proud of it, for he was a 
great and good man in his day. He fought our bat- 
tles and won our victories for us, for which we should 
all honor him, and I propose, in view of what he has 
done for his country and for us as a people, that we 
give him three hearty cheers without respect to party 
feelings, when all hands raised their hats and gave 
three thundering cheers for Jackson. I said, gentle- 
men, we have another great General who, if he has 
not won as many and as great victories as General 
Jackson, he has still done great service for his coun- 
try, and I propose, as we all joined in giving three 
cheers for Jackson, we all join in giving three more 
for Gen. Harrison ; when to my surprise they all with 
one accord joined in and gave three just as hearty 
cheers for Harrison. I then commenced by saying 
that I was a plain workingman, and as such wished to 
address myself to the working portion of my audience. 
It was the labor of the country and the laboring man's 
interest that I felt a desire of seeing promoted ; and 
it was this, and this alone that had brought me here, 



—72— 

that if I felt certain that the success of the Democratic 
party would result in promoting these objects, I would 
now stop and go home, and let politics alone, but hav- 
ing with me to-night Mr. Van Buren's views in his own 
party papers, that cannot be denied, which fully satis- 
fies me that if he is re-elected and carries out, as he 
most certainly will, those views, that it will prove most 
ruinous to the workingman's interest. I therefore feel 
it my duty to lay these things before you and let you 
judge for yourselves. I then went on to show and ex- 
plain my documents until I had finished. The leading 
men saw plainly that I had made some impression 
upon the party and began to accuse me of saying many 
things that I did not say, when some of their own men 
contradicted them, which brought on a general fight 
among themselves, in the midst of which myself and 
party stepped into our omnibusses and left, giving cheer 
after cheer for Harrison. This fight did our cause 
much good, as many of them came out boldly for Har- 
rison after that night. 

I next went to Doylestown, Buck's county, where 
we had a great meeting in a grove near the town, at 
which place I pitched into the editor of the Demo- 
cratic paper which had been abusing me from week to 
week, since I had first come to the State. He was 
pointed out to me at the meeting, when I went to him 
and told him that if he did not leave before I was 
done speaking that I would certainly thrash him, 
which he took good care to do. We had a gay time 
that night at my hotel, laughing over the manner in 
which we made him leave, and as long as he lived the 
people would laugh at him for letting me back him 
out. I had many difficulties to encounter in my trav- 
els at that day, that would not; have to be encounter- 
ed now. Then the Democratic party was made up 
mostly of the working class of the country. Nearly 
all the learned men of the country were Whigs, and 
it was seldom you saw a working man that was not 



—73— 

a poor Whig. I being a plain working man, and Whig 
speaker, the leading men of the Democratic party- 
feared that I would be able to make an impression on 
their party, that a professional or rich man would not 
be able to do. Hence their persecutions of me, for 
they generally poured out all their venom on my de- 
voted head ; they often had me insulted in hotels and 
every other place where opportunity afforded, and on 
one occasion I was surrounded at a railroad station on 
the Sabbath day, by a lawless mob of laboring men 
attached to the road, and had to get out of the cars 
with a pistol in each hand to defend myself from the 
men I was trying to elevate. But such was the igno- 
rance and prejudice of the Democratic party at that 
day that it was not much trouble to raise a mob to do 
anything you wished, with a little Democratic ar- 
gument (whisky) for that has always been a powerful 
lever in moving the Democratic car ; for whenever 
you take whisky and the "damned nigger" away from 
the Democrat, there is nothing left of him, at least 
this has been my experience for more than fifty years. 

When I left Doylestown, I went to Easton, a fine 
flourishing town on the Delaware river, in the north 
part of the State, where we were to have a great meet- 
ing ; this was a great Democratic place, and I expect- 
ed to have some trouble there. I had my wife and 
daughter (who had been in the East all Summer) with 
me, as also Hon. Charles Nailor, wife and daughter. 
We arrived early in the day and found the town alive 
with people, who had come from all parts of the coun- 
try to see and hear me. I was to be presented with 
a silver cup by the Whig ladies of the place, as a to- 
ken of their appreciation of my labors in the Whig 
cause, which was generally known, hence the great 
crowd of people. 

The Democrats of course were determined to neu- 
tralize any influence that I might have in that man- 
ufacturing town among the working men. They had 
*4 



—74— 

prepared a circular with twelve men's sworn testimo- 
ny, from my county in Ohio, that I had a wife and 
six children suffering for bread at home, and that I 
had also been charged with stealing some years before. 
This they had already to throw among the people (by 
boys) as soon as the meeting would organize, and be- 
fore I was introduced to the meeting hundreds of these 
circulars were picked up and were being read. One 
was handed to me, when I had read it I was intro- 
duced to the meeting and began by saying that I held 
in my hand a Democratic document, which if true, 
w^ould render me an unfit person to stand before such 
an audience as was now before me; this document ap- 
pears to have been sworn to by twelve highly respec- 
table men who know me in my own county, with the 
broad seal of the county in which I live. Well ladies 
and gentlemen let us see how far this document is 
true. I see a gentleman of your town, who knew me 
and my family in Ohio, standing now before me, you 
all know him, he is I believe much of a gentleman, if 
he is a Democrat. I will ask you sir to please step on 
the stand for a moment. He did so; I asked him to be 
so kind as to say if he had ever known me and my 
family; he said he had and at once recognized my wife 
and daughter who were on the stand at the time, and 
turning to the audience he said, these are^ll the fami- 
ly that Mr. Bear has, and at once took a seat with 
them on the stand where he remained during the 
meeting. When order was restored, I turned to the 
audience and said "ladies and gentlemen you have 
seen my suffering family, what do you think of them, 
do they look like they were starving; what do you 
think brother working men of a party that stoops so 
low to carry a point? Who do you think got up this 
lie ? I can tell you and you will see a poor misera- 
ble looking wretch, who looks as if he had just come 
out of a hen's roost at midnight, after an unsuccess- 
ful raid among the chickens ; you can tell him from. 



—75— 

all other men, by his sneaking looks, I see him now, 
and will bet fifty dollars that I can point him out, and 
if I owned a dog that would bark at such a creature 
as he, I would shoot him. This raised a shout and 
all eyes were turned on the editor of the Democratic 
paper of that place. 

You see that the first charge is false, now let us 
look at the other, which charges me with stealing, (let 
me see) they say it was in the fall of 1832 that I was 
charged with stealing; well I have a Democratic paper 
here, that was printed about that time (let me here 
state that in 1832 1 had by some mistake of the Dem- 
ocratic County Committee, been appointed a delegate 
to the Democratic State Convention, to nominate a 
candidate for Governor, and my name was published 
as such in the Democratic organ of the county ; I not 
being one of the party of course paid no attention to 
it, but had kept the paper more by accident than 
otherwise ; (this paper I had with me that day) and 
you will see by that paper (holding it up,) that I was 
a Democrat then, and if I did steal, I was only walk- 
ing in the footsteps of the Democratic party, for steal- 
ing and drinking bad whisky has ever been two of 
the cardinal principles of that party, but since I have 
been a Whig, in respectable company I believe 
they have had no charge against me. This complete 
refutation of this libelious attack on me, created the 
wildest applause from the mass of people that were 
around me, so much so, that the place became too hot 
for the editor, the author of the circular above allud- 
ed to. He had to leave as well as some of his backers, 
or the people in their excitement would no doubt 
have handled him roughly. 

I made my speech and was presented with a beau- 
tiful Silver cup by the ladies ; and at night spoke 
again, in front of the hotel where I was staying, to a 
large meeting and was very much annoyed by the only 
arguments the Democrats could use with any success 



—76— 

against me, and that was throwing stones into our 
crowd from dark corners at a distance, the poor devils 
could use no better argument than that. 

My dear reader you can only imagi»ne what I suf- 
fered, the many insults and privations I had to endure 
the narrow escapes I had to pass through in order to 
defend my party and principles ; did you know what 
I suffered, you would wonder how I ever made my 
way through it, with the poor start I had in life. My 
party never has, nor never will, fully realize what I 
have done and sacrifised for them, in the last fifty 
years ; 1 often wonder myself how I ever got along 
as well as I did, I had but one great stimulant to urge 
me on, and that was I knew 1 was right. I was work- 
ing to advance the interest of the laboring man, and 
the freedom of the world, and felt confident in the 
fulness of time, that right would overcome error, and 
the principles that I was advocating would triumph, 
and this alone bore me up. 

Nothing occured at Bethleham a place where there 
is a large female school, where I spoke after leaving 
Easton; the most of the inhabitants are very religious 
and as a consequence were Whigs, for pious men don't 
make very good Democrats. I was well treated there 
and stayed a day or two until my appointment was 
ready at AUentown in Lehigh County, at which place 
the Democrats got a drunken showman to get up a 
meeting on the opposite corner to draw their friends 
away from hearing me, but it was no go, he had too 
much whisky in him to eff'ect any thing, and then 
they kicked up a fight among themselves, but finding 
they could not stop our speaking, they undertook to 
raise a row at our meeting, and in this they failed, 
and after several of them got their eyes blacked and 
noses pretty well smashed up, they concluded to leave 
and let us have our meeting go on quietly. 

I was to speak at Reading the next day, and was 
met at Rutz3town, a small place on the road, in Berks 



—77— 

county, the hardest place this side of purgatory, by 
a large committee from Reading, among them several 
of the Philadelphia Whigs. They had called a meet- 
ing there for me to make a short speech while dinner 
would be getting ready. Just as I had begun to 
speak, the Democrats had prepared a stuffed paddy 
with a red petticoat, to represent Gen. Harrison as 
an old woman, and had it setting on a two wheeled 
sulky drawn by a big negro, who pulled it right up 
in front of where I was speaking. As soon as the 
Whigs saw it, they commenced to beat the negro over 
the head with clubs, when the white Democrats inter- 
fered and a general fight commenced. I being very 
stout, jumped down and pitched into a bull headed 
dutchman and in less than two minutes we cleaned 
the ground of every Democrat that was there. I 
guess some of them and the old negro if living, have 
never forgotten the day the Buckeye Blacksmith took 
dinner at their town. 

We left Rutzstown at twelve o'clock, and were met 
on the road by another delegation which were all 
mechanics and by the time we had reached Reading, 
we had over a hundred vehicles in our procession. 
We had a great meeting that afternoon and my speech 
had the effect of bringing down all the Democratic pa- 
pers and leaders on me ; they manufactured a new 
set of lies on me, for which I had two of them arrest- 
ed. The Court being in session, the cases were at 
once sent before the Grand Jury, and to the ever- 
lasting disgrace of the Democracy of Berks county, 
twenty three Grand Jurymen under their solemn oaths 
surrounded me in the Grand Jury room, and like a 
pack of hyeanes attempted to mob me, refusing to 
let me or any other witness testify before them, and 
not only ignored the two bills without hearing any 
testimony, but actually held me a prisoner until the 
cost was paid. I have no doubt, if it had not been 
that I expected a row, and went prepared for them. 



—78— 

that they would have maltreated me right in the 
Grand Jury room, they said that I ought to be hung 
for coming there to speak against the Democrats. 
I confess that I would rather have been in some other 
place just then, than locked up in a room with twen- 
ty-three ignorant copperheads in a county where no 
"Whig had any show for justice in their courts, but I 
faced the music as best I could, and finally got clear 
of them by paying thirteen dollars and fifty cents 
cost. This was the first case that I ever knew the 
Grand Jury to commit a man and hold him a prisoner 
for cost, that is generally done by the courts. All 
this persecution was brought to bear against me, to 
destroy my influence among the mass of the working 
men that were every where flocking to hear a work- 
ing man speak, and to the credit of many of the me- 
chanics of Reading of that early day, they boldly 
came out and condemned the course of their leaders, 
and many forever after that treatment of me by the 
Grand Jury, left the party and never after acted with 
them, so that they lost more than they gained by their 
persecution of me. 

My next appointment was Pottsville ; here I had a 
gay old time, they wanted to fight me, I agreed to 
fight the whole party one at a time, with the under- 
standing that every Democrat that I licked should 
vote for Harrison, under a penalty of one thousand 
dollars, and I would furnish a Whig to vote for Van 
Buren for every one that licked me, under the same 
bond. I told them that I could make votes faster 
that way than by talking, but that argument would 
not suit them, so that matter was settled by my hav- 
ing to knock one fellow down for calling me a liar. I 
had experienced great difiiculty during my travels to 
get letters through the mails, as all the post masters 
as well as the department at Washington was Demo- 
cratic. I had to get my letters sent to me under an 
assumed name and then when the post master recog- 



—79— 

nised me lie would refuse to give me my letters ; this 
was the case at Pottsville, where I had two letters 
one with a lottery ticket in it that drew a small prize, 
and the other simply the drawing of the lottery; these 
letters I never received. I was told that they were 
sent to the dead letter office at Washington. I wrote 
to the manager of the lottery and stopped payment 
of the prize, and this was the last I ever heard of it, 
and the last ticket I wrote for also. 

There was one very interesting incident that oc- 
curred at my meeting at this place, that I shall never 
forget, it was this, a certain young man in a small vil- 
lage near Pottsville was courting u young lady, who 
was a good Whig girl, and had refused to marry him 
unless he would vote the Whig ticket; this he would 
not consent to do, but when I came along, she invited 
him to take her to hear me, thinking that possibly I 
might make some impression on him, I being a me- 
chanic ; he came with her, and during my remarks 
upon the tariff* question, I seemed to satisfy him that 
it was to the interest of all working men to stand by 
the party who favored protection to American labor, 
in order to protect themselves. So at the close of the 
speech he promptly informed her that he was convin- 
ced that it was to his interest to vote the Whig ticket, 
and shall therefore go for Harrison ; then said she I 
shall go for you, and at onoe went to the hotel, sent 
for a minister and in the presence of myself and a 
large number of ladies and gentlemen of their ac- 
quaintance were married. 

At this place I found a large number of miners 
mostly foreigners, many of them very intelligent men, 
particularly the Scotch and Welch. These people had 
never been in the habit of going to political meetings, 
they seemed to take but little interest in politics, but 
when I came along, being a working man, they turned 
out to a man, to hear me, and many of them became 
my warmest friends. The Irish generally went against 



—so- 
me. The Democrats soon found out that I was in 
their road in that region of the State, and tried all 
manner of means to put me down. But notwithstand- 
ing all their abuse and insults, I remained a week or 
more in that county, visiting the mines and speaking 
at small meetings every day. It was not safe to speak 
after night at those small places, they would mob us, 
so the only plan was to speak in the day time, this 
they did not like, the darker the night, the better it 
was for them, they could then answer our arguments 
with stones, without being seen. 

I next visited Danville Montour county, where I 
had some fun with an ex-member of Congress, who 
was Judge of the Court, and had adjourned Court two 
hours to give me time to speak ; this Judge had been 
in Congress four years and had never said a word 
while there, except now and then to rise in his seat and 
say Mr. Speaker I object ; he had become known to 
every person in the country, by the name of I object 
Mr. Speaker ; he had been pointed out to me as the 
Judge, when I had spoken near my two hours, I turned 
to the president and said is my time most out, I fear 
if I speak much longer the Honorable Court might 
object, this brought the house down with a tremendous 
burst of applause, when the Judge sprang to his feet 
and said in a very angry manner, "Mr. President, I 
did not adjourn this Court to be insulted, by you nor 
any other man you may choose to bring here, I was 
born in this country, and pay taxes here, and do not 
intend to be insulted in this Court room." Mr. Presi- 
dent, said I, " you will please keep order, for to this 
interruption I do most positively object," this brought 
the house down again worse than ever, when the Judge 
called out, "I demand of you sir, your author of tnis 
slanderous stuff." "To give you my author sir, I must 
surely object," this raised the wildest shouts of laugh- 
ter I ever witnessed. There was no more speaking, 
but my friends flocked around me and shook me by 



—81— 

the hands until they nearly pulled my arms off; among 
the crowd that gathered around me, were a number 
of moderate Democrats, who enjoyed the fun as well 
as the Whigs did. 

After the meeting was over I went to a blacksmith 
shop, made a set of horse shoes and nails, and shod a 
horse for one of the leading Democrats of the place, 
who seemed to enjoy the fun as well as any of the rest. 

From Danville I made a tour up the north branch 
of the Susquehanna river, and spoke in all the towns of 
any size through the northern part of the State. At 
almost every place I went I had to encounter new 
difficulties with the Democrats, they seemed to forget 
every other question that was agitating the public 
mind, and devoted all their ingenuity and talent in 
trying to break me down ; they even went so far, as to 
send all the way to Ohio and t)uy a small note on me, 
that was unpaid when I left home, and had me arrest- 
ed while I was speaking, on a capias as a non- resident 
and on various occasions, they would wait until a very 
late hour in the evening until the most of my Whig 
friends had gone home, and then call on me to have 
some matter explained that they would pretend that 
I had said at my meeting that night, and prove by 
some of their party that I had said things that I had 
never thought of, and when I would deny it they would 
frequently commence abusing me, and I would be under 
the necessity of drawing a weapon on them in self de- 
fence. When I spoke at large meetings in company 
with such men as James Cooper, Thaddius Stevens, 
Judge Sargent, Charles Penrose and others, the most 
distinguished speakers in the State at that time, the 
Democrats would in publishing an account of the 
meeting, merely name those destinguished speakers, 
and devote a whole column in misrepresenting and 
abusing me, misquoting almost every thing that I had 
said, and then call on their party to stay away from 
my meetings ; this they did to poisen the minds of the 



—82— . 

working men of their party against rae, and thereby 
prevent them from attending my meetings. But not- 
withstanding all their efforts to keep the honest por- 
tion of their party from hearing me they failed, for 
the people would come, and I have no doubt, but 
many of the n^oderate men of their party, who had 
read so many of their denunciations against me, after 
hearing me themselves, left their party and voted our 
ticket. It must be conceded, that many a good man 
has been misled by them into the Democratic ranks, 
who when he is convinced of his error, will forever 
leave them. Not all Democrats are bad men, but my 
experience is, that all bad men are Democrats ; there 
seems to be a natural affinity between a loafer and a 
Democrat, a kind of drawing together; so much so, 
that my experience of fifty years in politics, has led 
me to believe that it is safe to bet five to one, that 
every drinking disorderly loafer you see is a Democrat. 

I often hear it said, that the Democratic party, was 
once a pure party, I would ask in all seriousness, when 
that was, it has not been in the last fifty years, it was 
conceived in sin and brought forth in inequity ; it was 
started by the rabel of that day, against one of the 
best men that ever lived ; it never has appealed to the 
understanding of man, but to his baser passions. It 
was gathered up in the interest of the whisky insur- 
rection in the early part of the present century, and as 
a party opposed to collecting the excise duty on whis- 
ky, that was levied to pay the national debt. So you 
will see that it was the same party then that it is now; 
I have often thought that as the party was organized 
in the interest of whisky, that it had something to do 
in giving the party of this day, such an appetite for the 
article, that it has, for every body knows that without 
whisky the Democratic party could not exist long, 
neither could they carry on a successful campaign. 

I will now relate an incident that occuned at Mil- 
lerstown on the Juniata river. While I was speak- 



—83— 

ing on the subject of Van Buren's Sub-Treasury scheme, 
I exhibited a Sub-Treasury note for fifty dollars, with 
one cent interest, payable one year after date, it had 
nine months to run before it was due ; I held it up and 
asked if any person in the audience could redeem it, 
that was not an office holder. I said the people must 
pay all their postage and other debts to the govern- 
ment in gold and silver, and these bits of paper are 
good enough for them ; the office holder must have 
gold and silver for his work, and these are good enough 
for the people, when up raised a man and sang out, "I 
will give you fifty three dollars for that bill, it is worth 
a premium of six per cent." The Democratic portion 
of the audience raised a terrible yell, when I said you 
must be an office holder ; "yes" said one of the crowd 
**he is the post master of this town," oh said I, no 
doubt but he can raise the gold and silver for it, but 
can any other but an office holder do it, I will wait a 
moment to see, no other person seemed to respond, I 
said, you can have it, sir, bring on your cash, when up 
he stepped and poured out on the stand the fifty three 
dollars in silver ; after I had counted it, I said, "it i3 
all right, sir, I am much obliged to you, I have made- 
five dollars on it for I can buy as many as I want in 
Philadelphia for forty-eight dollars; they are four 
per cent under par. Said he, *'is this a genuine note,'* 
I said, "I don't knjw, it come from the Democratic 
party at Washington and I have some doubts about 
it, for I never have seen anything that did come from 
your party that was genuine, but said I, "have you 
any more silver about you, or was this the size of your 
pile, (pointing to the silver lying on tiie stand,) I have 
another note here, pulling out another fitly dollar 
note with eleven months to run, drawing five mills in- 
terest, and shook that at him, said, "come on now don't 
back out," but he did back out and then my party 
raised a yell, and the post-master and his friends 
sneaked off very much chap-fallen, for they knew that 



— S4— 

the note was only worth fifty dollars and a half in 
gold when it was due, but he had paid this premium, 
in order to get this note out of my hands not knowing 
that I had another. 

The next day I was to speak at Mifflintown, a few 
miles up the river, and had to pass a place known as 
the Narrows, a short distance from Millerstown, where 
the rocks for some distance, were fifty feet high, pro- 
jecting over the road, where some of those malicious 
men, no doubt prompted by the postmaster, had by the 
aid of hand spikes worked a large rock loose that 
would weigh at least three tons, and had it all ready 
when I came along in a carriage, in company with 
Charles B. Penrose, a member of the State Senate, and 
a gentleman that owned the carriage ; just as we got 
under the rock they tipped it over, and if it had not 
been for the horses being very active and had sprang 
forward at the noise made by the crushing of the rock 
above as it tipped over wc would have all been crush- 
ed into the earth. We only escaped by a few irches 
as the rock struck the edge of the hind wheels of our 
carriage as they passed underit merely touching them, 
hard enough, however, to break one or two spokes. — 
After our narrow escape we went around the narrows 
and got on the rocks and there saw their tools that 
they had used in working the rock loose. Hundreds 
of people visited the spot to see for themselves, and 
that rock bears the name of the Buckeye rock until 
this day. 

You may see my kind friends by this what I have 
had to endure and to suffVr for my principles, and the 
cause of right, and I have no doubt but that there are 
but few men but what would have become discouraged 
and given up and gone home, and I have often since 
wondered how it was that I endured all that I did, 
the half will never be knowu that I did endure. 

From Mifflintown I was to attend a meeting, a bar- 
bacue, a mile or so from Lewistown, a few miles up 



—86— 

the river. Here the Democrats had been very active 
in preparing a plan to keep their party from hearing 
me speak ; they had gotten up a meeting at the same 
hour of our meeting not twenty rods from ours, and as 
we were to raise a pole at twelve o'clock, they were 
to raise one also at that hour ; well, we both had good 
sized meetings, and at twelve o'clock the fun com- 
menced ; our pole was a nice dressed pine pole, and 
was light and easy raised, we run it right up in a few 
minutes, they, however, were determined to outdo us, 
had got a large green hickory pole and could not raise 
it nor never did raise it half way up. As soon as our 
pole w^as up and we had cheered awhile, our meeting 
was organized and I began to speak ; no sooner than I 
began to speak than the whole of the Democratic 
crowd left their pole and came over to hear me, 
speaker and all. I told them that I was glad to see 
them, that it did me good to see men, and particularly 
woikingmen, have independance enough to hear for 
themselves what the opposite party had to say. In a 
few moments their speaker called on me for the proof 
of something that I had said, when some of our men 
were for putting him out of the crowd ; I said, no, the 
gentleman has a right to call for proof, and I am bound 
to furnish it, which I will do if the gentleman will 
take a seat on the stand ; he came forward and took 
a seat, I handed him the proof; when he had read it 
I said, are you satisfied, sir, that I made a fair state- 
ment ? He said, yes, it is all true. I went on and as 
fast as I read a document, I handed it to him to see if 
I stated it right, and as he would read them he was 
honest enough to admit their genuineness. When I 
had concluded my speech, I invited him to reply, when 
he immediately came forward and said that the proofs 
that I had produced were so unanswerable, that he 
should not mak^ any attempt to do so. and unless his 
party would produce testimony, by the next Tuesday, 
to show that they were false, he should take to the 



—86— 

stump for Gen. Harrison. This, as a matter of course, 
raised a shout from the Whigs, but the Democrats be- 
gan to abuse him and accuse him with being bought, 
and to say all manner of things against him, and even 
made loud threats of personal violence against him, 
but I was their match, when they made threats against 
him, he being quite a small man; I said, if I hear 
another threat out of one of you, I will come down 
from the stand and thrash you out of your boots. — 
This raised a great laugh, and Doctor Swartz, for that 
was their speakers name, had to seek safety from them 
on the road back to town in our procession, and that 
night made a Whig speech with me in the Court-house 
in Lewistown, where he handled the Democrats with- 
out gloves ; he remained a true man during the 
campaign, and was the means of doing our cause much 
good. I received great credit from the Whigs for 
bringing over this man, and for the manner in which 
I succeeded in doing it. 

From Lewistown I was to be at the great conven- 
tion at Lancaster, and in going there had to travel by 
Canal in packet boats, as far as Harrisburg, where we 
could take the cars ; they ran that far West at that 
time. The Canal being in the hands of the Democrats, 
they concluded to not let us go through, and in order 
to Slop us, drew off the water from one Canal that was 
a mile or more long, but we beat them at that, by all 
walking along the tow-path with long ropes and haul- 
ed the empty boats through the mud until we reached 
the next Canal and arrived in Harrisburg in time to 
meet the evening train for Lancaster, and arrived 
there the night before the Convention met. 

At this meeting a large number of the roughs from 
Philadelphia, of the Democratic faith had assembled, 
for the purpose of aiding the Lancaster roughs in break- 
ing up our convention, but there were too many Whigs 
there for them to undertake it in the day time, so they 
waited until night, when they supposed that the most 



—87— 

of them would leave, and they would be better able 
to manage the balance; so at night they made an at- 
tack upon a meeting in the Public Square but made a 
bad bargain of it. They then went to the public Ho- 
tels and attacked every Whig they met and beat many 
of them severely. As I was walking up from one of 
our stands, for we had meetings at several places that 
night, I met three or four of the Philadelphia bullies, 
who enquired of me if I knew at which meeting they 
could find the Buckeye Blacksmith, for, said they, we 
are after him. Well, said I, he was right down yonder, 
where you saw those lights a few minutes ago. Thank 
you sir, said one of them, we would give fifty dollars 
to get hold of that fellow. I thought to myself and 
you would give a hundred to get away from him again 
if you were by yourself. 

They went on and 1 went down the street a consid- 
erable distance and called into a small tavern and 
ask d if I could get lodging, when I was told that I 
could. I made some inquiry about what was going on 
in the street and was told all about the meeting, and 
that the Democrats intended to get hold of the Buck- 
eye Blacksmith that night if they could, and the land- 
lord, although a Democrat, expressed some fears that 
the mob would attack the City Hotel, for he said this 
man was stopping there, as also the rest of the speak- 
ers, and he would not be surprised if some of them 
were killed before morning. I thought to myself that 
I should be surprised if they found the blacksmith at 
the City Hotel that night. What has this blacksmith 
done, said I, that they are after him to mob him ? "oh, 
said he, "they say that he is very abusive in his speak- 
ing and pretends that he can thrash any man in the 
country." Did you ever see him, said I. "No I never 
did," he said, "but I always liked a spunky man." — 
The conversation ended here and I went to bed, for no 
person would ever think of looking for me in this little 
out-of-the-way place. So the next morning at break- 



—88-. 

fast I said to the landlord, I wonder if the Democrats 
found the blacksmith last night. "Yes," said a fellow 
at the table, "and gave him a good licking at that. — 
I'll bet he don't come to Lancaster to lie again very- 
soon." " He lies, does he," said I. " They say so," 
said he, " I never heard him." "Where did they find 
him," 1 asked. " At the City Hotel," was the response. 
" Gentlemen," said I, " that blacksmith was not at the 
City Hotel last night ; he is a plain man, as plain as 
I am, and prefers to stay at a good plain tavern like 
this." There were four or five men at the table and 
they seemed to be pleased to hear me speak as I did. 
" Then you know him, do you," said the landlord. — 
" Oh yes," said I, " he slept in this house last night. 
I can s-wear to that, for he slept in the same bed with 
me." " I don't understand you," said one of them, " if 
he slept in the same bed with you last night where is 
he now?" "Why, gentlemen," I remarked, "he is 
sitting at the table eating with you." " What ! are 
you the blacksmith they talk so much about?" "I 
am the man," I said, " and am very much surprised to 
see that you hard-working men would lend your influ- 
ence to a party thatwould stoop so low as to hunt down 
a man whose only crime is that he is poor and chooses 
to speak and act for himself; you gentlemen have 
the same right to speak and act in politics as though 
you were worth a million of money. They were very 
much pleased with my conversation, and the landlord 
and his wife were elated because of my stopping with 
them and speaking so well of their house as a good, 
plain tavern, which it was. The leading roughs how- 
ever would not have been pleased to think that I was 
so completely in their power, if they had only known it. 
From here I went to New York to speak one week 
until another meeting could be called for me, this was 
an arrangement between the two State committees. — 
This was my first visit to New York. The committee 
had called six meetings at difierent parts of the city, 



—89— 

one for each day, the last one to be at the City Park. 
This was one of the largest meetings at which I had 
ever spoken and was held on Saturday afternoon. It 
was known that I was to speak on the Currency and 
Van Buren's Sub-Treasury scheme, which brought all 
the business men of the city to hear me. A. G. Clarke 
ex-mayor was chairman of the meeting ; when I con- 
cluded he came forward and told the people that I was 
a poor man, and he proposed that the meeting should 
make me a present of a farm by a public collection that 
day, and said " I will give ten dollars and I know that 
a thousand of you will do the same," when thousands 
responded, and a committee sent around. I very fool- 
ishly stepped forward and said, gentlemen I am not out 
speaking for money as the Democrats say, I am out 
for the great cause of the Whig party. This put a stop 
to the collection, and the result was I paid my own 
bills at the hotel. This, I consider, was the most fool- 
ish act of my life, for I have no doubt but I would 
have received at least five or six thousand dollars that 
day if I had kept my mouth shut, for money was 
plenty and I had pleased the people to such an extent 
that they were ready to give their last dollar to rae, 
but in the excitement of the moment I refused to let 
them raise me a dollar, which I ever afterwards re- 
greted 

I left New York and spoke next at Harrisburg, Pa., 
at which place I met several that had known me in 
my boyhood days when I had worked a few miles be- 
low there. Some of the Democrats had intended to 
kick up a fuss at my meeting, but when they heard 
that I was the same blacksmith that had been such a 
good fighter in that country, when but a boy, they 
concluded to let me alone. I took advantage of that 
and told them that I generally thrashed any man that 
interrupted me ; I told them, that I had licked some 
of their best men when I was a boy and I had not for- 
gotten how to do it yet, and the best way for them was 
to keep quiet, which they did. 



—90- 

I next went to York, where I had once lived, and 
many of the older citizens remembered me. Here I 
got tlie Democrats in a bad way ; one of them came 
on the stand to make me take back yometbiiig that I 
had said, but I soon made him leave the stand with- 
out accomplishing his object, amid the laughter of the 
whole crowd. 

From York I began a tour along the Southern tier 
of counties westward, so as to reach Ohio in time for 
the election. I spoke at all the principal towns going 
West until I reached Erie, Penn., and then made my 
way directly to Cleveland, Ohio, where I spoke to a 
large meeting the night before the election. I was 
one hundred miles from home, but determined to reach 
there in time to vote the next day* 
The Whigs of Cleveland had made arrangements with 
the Ohio Stage Co., to run me through by express in 
time to vote, which they did, and I arrived just one 
hour before the polls closed amid the shouts of the 
Whigs of our little town. I doubt if ever a man went 
to the polls with more friends around him than I did 
that day, it was a day long to be remembered by me. 
I had been gone nine months from home, went away 
a plain man and come back lionized by the whole 
country, so much so, that my friends and neighbors of 
all parties not only respected but felt proud of me ; I 
was well received by all, and a meeting was called at 
once to hear a short history of my travels, which I 
gave them ; while relating home of the amusing scenes 
that I had passed through, many of my friends were 
convulsed with laughter. 

I went to C'olumbus, a few days after my arrival. — 
I gave a full history of all 1 had seen and heard while 
away, and thus ended my first political campaign. 



CHAPTER IV. 

AS SOON as it was ascertained that Gen. Harri- 
son was elected, I concluded to pay him a visit. 
1 was warmly received not only by him, but by all his 
friends around him at his headquarters in Cincinnati ; 
he and his friends gave me great praise for what I had 
done, and were very much pleased with the history 
that I gave of my travels. They all agreed that I must 
be taken care of at the proper time, the old General 
saying that he had a nice little place in view for me. 
When it became known that I was in the city, a 
meeting was called and thousands of people responded 
to the call, to hear me relate the various incidents 
that occurred during my travels, and when I finished 
I was very much lionised by my Whig friends. After 
remaining a few days in the city, and having been 
nearly shaken to pieces by my friends in their con- 
gratulations of my success in the campaign, I left for 
home. 



—92— 

On my arrival there I found a number of letters 
from members elect to the legislature, from various 
parts of the State, inviting me to become a candidate 
for Hergeant-at-i^: rms of the House, the coming session' 
that was; about to commence. I went to Columbus 
and consulted some of my best friends on the subject 
and concluded through their advice to let my name be 
used for that office. 

A few days after I went to Columbus ; the Legisla- 
ture met, and I soon saw the game that was about to 
be played. The usual rule of the caucus was to nomi- 
nate the Speaker first the Clerk next, and last the Ser- 
geant-at-arms, but in order to secure a speaker from the 
Western part of the State, they balloted for Sergeant- 
at-arms first and nominated me, I living in the middle 
part of the State, they then nominated a man from the 
Eastern part of the State for Clerk, so as to secure the 
Speaker from the West; I concluded to block that 
little game, so I came forward and declined the nomi- 
nation in favor of a western man, that would entitle 
my district to the Speaker. I no sooner declined than 
my friends saw the point and nominated the Western 
man in my place, and then gave my friend the Speak- 
ership. 

i thus made a sacrifice of myself to promote the in- 
terest of one of the best men that ever lived in Ohio ; 
he still lives there, and has faithfully served his coun- 
try and his party in many high positions since that 
day. I need not name him, my readers, no doubt, 
will recognize him by what I have already said. Many 
of my best friends since that day have blamed me tor 
sacrificing myself for others, for had I stood firm for 
myself that day, I might have gotten a start that would 
have enabled me in fi'ture years to have become one 
oi the leading men of the State. 

Nothing unusual occurred until the time for Harri- 
son to take his seat. I was there, of cours^i, and made 
several speeches congratulating my friend on his sue- 



—OS- 
cess. A few days after the inauguration I called on 
the President and was admitted without a card, which 
gave some offence to the great crowd who were trying 
to gain access to him ; the President told me to rest 
easy a few days and he would have my place ready 
for me, which was an Indian Agency among the Wyan- 
dott Indians ; so I went away contented and in a few 
days I received my commission, but before I had given 
bond (which I did) and had gotten my instructions, 
the President got sick and died. 

Mr. Tyler succeeded him and it was some days be- 
fore I got my final instructions and started to my field 
of labor, which was at upper Sandusky, Ohio, among 
the Wyandotts. I soon became very popular with the 
Indians by attending strictly to their interest; soon 
after my arrival among the Indians the Government 
commenced negotiations with them for their lands, and 
sent a Commissioner there to treat with them ; he was 
an excellent man, and with my aid finally made a 
treaty by which they were to receive lands in Kansas 
for their lands in Ohio, and were to move to their new 
homes within one year at the expense of the Govern- 
ment, and I was to go w^ith them and continue to be 
their Agent ; but about this ttme Tyler had sold out 
to the Democracy, and I had but little hopes of stay- 
ing in office under him, as I was an unyielding friend 
of Henry Clay, and Tyler knew it. About this time 
I had business at Columbus and went there; no sooner 
had the Tyler party of Columbus heard of my arrival 
than they called a meeting at the Market House with- 
out consulting me and announced me to speak. As 
soon as the Clay men saw their bills, they too, called 
a Clay meeting at the opposite end of the Market 
House, and announced me as their speaker. What 
was I to do ? Principle, and fidelity to my party 
stareing me in the face on one side, and bread for my 
family on the other. I was poor. If I spoke my senti- 
ments, which would be for Clay, I would be turned 



—94— 

out of my office. If I lost my situation I would have 
nothiug to start with ; what should I do ? If I spoke 
at the Tyler meeting I would sacrifise my whole life's 
cherished principles. I must contebS it was the severest 
trial of my life, both parties around me urgiog me to 
speak at their meetings. I had but a few hours to 
decide the matter. I tinally made up my mind what 
to do, which was to go to both meetings, and decline 
to speak at either on the ground that I lived in the 
Indian Territory and had no right to meddle with State 
politics ; I did so, but at the Clay meeting the Presi- 
dent desired me to say who I favored for the next 
President. Without any hesitation I answered : when 
the time arrives to elect a President and Henry Clay 
is still living, I shall support him if nominated. This 
caused the wildest excitement among both parties, the 
Tyler men denouncing me and the Clay men shouting 
praises for my firmness in the matter; the end of the 
matter was, that in nine days from that Tyler discharg- 
ed me ; we had no telegraph then, su it took four days 
to go to Washington, one day to act on it, and four 
days to come back. 

Well here I was in a distant country away from 
friends, with none but Indians about me and they to 
poor to help me to start any business, so I concluded 
to open up a campaign on temperance. I had sometime 
before that, taken a decided stand in the great Wash- 
ington temperance movement of that day, so I moved 
back to my former place of residence, and started out 
speaking on temperance, and here again I was brought 
into direct antagonism with my old opponents the Dem- 
ocrats, for I was not only in their way as a party man, 
but assisting to destroy their most powerful lever that 
moved their political machmery, (whisky.) They 
im mediately commenced a new attack on me wherever 
I went, they secured the services of their most misera- 
ble tools to libel me, and say all manner of evil things 
against me to destroy my usefulness as a lecturer, they 



—OS- 
followed me wherever I went, reporting that where I 
had spoken the day before, that I had been drunk, and 
that the Temperance men had refused to let me speak 
and would not recognise me. So unrelenting did they 
prosecute me, that 1 was compelled to get a certificate 
from the leading men of the place where I spoke, cer- 
tifying to my conduct while at their place, and take it 
with me to the next town ; in this way I managed to 
head them off; I have a large bundle of these certifi- 
cates unto this day. On one occasion there was to be 
a Fourth of July celebration in an adjoining county 
by the Temperance people, and they sent a committee 
to my county to obtain speakers. I was the man lecom- 
mended by several of the clergymen of our county, as 
the most effective man for them and wa^ accordingly in- 
vited in connection with one of our leading clergymen 
to attend. The committee returned home and report- 
ed these facts to an adjourned meeting ; no sooner had 
they done so, than a leading Democratic doctor who 
was one of the leading Temperance men of the county 
offered a resolution to notify me not to attend. This 
resolution was at once vc ted down on the ground that I 
had been recommended by the best men of the coun- 
try. This Democrat at once withdrew not only from 
the Temperance cause, but from the church that had 
sustained me ; this occured some two weeks before the 
celebration was to take place. 

No sooner was it determined upon, that I was to 
speak there, than this doctor and his friends secured 
the service of a poor miserable drunken Englishman, 
to go to my county and obtain some claims, if any 
could be found against me, so as to arrest me as a non- 
resident debtor of the county, and thereby disgrace 
me, and if possible, destroy my influence. He suc- 
ceeded in obtaining two small claims, one for less than 
two dollars, and the other for less than ten dollajs; 
this they kept a secret calculating tc* arrest me on the 
morning of the fifth as I was exempt from arrest on 
the fourth by law. 



—96— 

The fourth of J uly arrived and with it myself and! 
friend that was to speak with me. I spoke twice thatt 
day, and gave so much satisfaction that one of the 
leading Ministers of the county offered a resolution in- 
viting me to speak again next day at ten o'clock and i 
at night ; it was accordingly so arranged. The next; 
morning this drunken loafer went before a magistrate ; 
and made oath that I was about to leave the county 
with intent to defraud him out of his just claims,, 
(when I had not any knowledge that I owed him ai 
cent.) He got a warrant, and just as I was about to 
commence speaking, had me arrested on one of these 
claims ; my friends were too strong for him and I made 
my speech before I went with the constable, and when 
I appeared before the Squire I beat him in the suit. — 
I did not owe the claim. As soon as I beat him on 
this claim, he got another warrant for the other, and 
had me re-arrested ; this claim he managed to beat me 
in although it was another man's debt, still I was 
bound to se3 it paid ; I took an appeal on this, and 
finally in the end beat him on that also, the real debtor 
coming forward and paying the debt. 

There was a monster meeting that night and several 
Ministers and leading men came forward and de- 
nounced these proceedings in the severest terms. I 
left there in the course of a few days with flying colors. 

My dear reader you will never be able to fully un- 
derstand the amount of sufferings, persecutions and 
trials, that I have had to pass throuijh for the cause of 
right, and for principles that I honestly believed to be 
correct; the half will never be known this side of 
eternity what I have endured in the last fifty years in 
advocating those great and fundamental principles that 
I have always believed would advance the interests of 
the laboring men of this country. I have labored 
honestly, fully believing that in the fulness of time, 
in His own appointed way God would bring about the 
accomplishment of these very principles I have so long 



—97— 

and zealously advocated. Though I may not live to 
see that day, I have an unshaken confidence in their 
final triumph. May God in his goodness hasten the 
day! 

On many occasions these enemies of mine would ob- 
tain the services of some abandoned woman to meet me 
on the street, and pretend that I was one of her old ac- 
quaintance, and insist on a renewal of our former 
friendship, when in fact she had never seen me before, 
but these games had but little eflTect, the better class 
of people understood them too well. 

At one place during my absence a poor ignorant 
creature stole into my room at a tavern where I was 
staying, and put a pint bottle of whisky in my carpet 
bag, and then came to my meeting and oflfered to bet 
twenty dollars that I carried whisky in my bundle, 
(but in this I beat him.) Just before I went to the 
meeting 1 went to my room to get a handkerchief and 
there found the bottle and at once destroyed it, knowing 
that devil had put it there; so when he offered to bet 
the twenty dollars I asked him who gave him the 
money to bet, (for he looked like a man that never 
had any money.) He said : "never mind wnere I got 
the money ; you dare not bet." "Yes, I dare" said I, 
"put up your money in the landlord's hands and ap- 
point your own committee to examine my carpet-bag, 
I will bet you twenty dollars that I have no whisky 
in it." We put up the money and he appointed the 
landlord to examine the carpet-bag. The whole 
crowd rushed to the tavern to see the examination. — 
After everything was taken out of the carpet-bag and 
no whisky found, the landlord gave me the money 
amid the wildest shouts of the temperance men present, 
and I never saw such a chop-fallen set as these few 
red face, blear eyed Democratic rummies, who had 
made up the money for him to bet; they scarcely 
knew what to say when I told the landlord to give me 
a room with a good lock on it, for I feared some of 
*5 



—98— 

those fellows who had such dirty shirts on might take 
a notion to some of ray clean ones, and I had no no- 
tion to trade with them. The next night I spoke 
again and told the whole story, how I had found the 
whisky and destroyed it, showing the whole plan to 
disgrace me and win my money ; this, as well as the 
most of their dirty tricks only served to make me 
more popular, at least it did me no harm. 

At one place there lived a man who had consider- 
able property ; he had three sons, two were grown 
young men, and the other nearly so. They had all 
began to love whisky too well, and their father knew 
it. I had gotten up a great excitement in the place 
on temperance, when a venerable old Methodist min- 
ister, who knew the habits of these young men, went 
to their father and said : "my friend, you know that 
your boys are in danger of being ruined by whisky, 
had you not better join in with us in this great tem- 
perance movement that is now going on, you may 
thereby save your sons from ruin. "Parson," said the 
old man, "I would rather follow my boys to the grave 
than see them join the Temperance Society, for every 
man that joins that Society is forever lost to the 
Democratic party, and I would rather bury every son 
I have than see them vote the Whig ticket." 

You will see my dear reader, the difficulty that I 
labored under. When I met a Whig that was fond of 
whisky, he said : "well you are a good Whig and I 
don't care if you are a Temperance man, I like you 
anyhow," but when I run against a Democrat that 
loved whisky, and the majority of them do, I had no 
offset to make with him ; he had a double hatred to 
me, and even the very few temperate Democrats that 
I met, threw every obstacle in my way that they could, 
even some of their best members of the church refused 
to meet me in a social manner, so much had the party 
press prejudiced their minds against me. 

If a liberal Democrat was seen in a friendly con- 



—99— 

versation with rae, he was at once set upon by the 
leaders and chastised for departing from the faith. — 
The poor fellows were afraid to be friendly with me, 
for fear they would be read out of the party, and you 
know it would be a dreadful thing to be read out of 
such an honorable and dignified party as the Demo- 
cratic party has always been ; this, and this alone 
kept hundreds, yes, thousands of their respectable 
men from lea^ring them, the fear of the abuse that 
would be heaped upon them by their leaders and the 
party press. 

Without going into any further details on my tem- 
perance experience, I will only add that I continued 
to lecture on that subject until the fall of 1843, when 
I received a letter from a Committee of the leading 
Whigs of Columbus, Ohio, to come and speak for them 
a few times on politics. I went and soon found that 
their object in inviting rae there was preparatory to 
sending me South in the interest of Henry Clay's 
nomination for the Presidency the following Spring. 
I stayed there several days, made several speeches, 
and got myself well posted on the various subjects 
that were then before the people. 

My Whig friends had secured the services of a 
Southern man to pioneer me through that country (as 
I had never been farther South than Kentucky,) by 
the name of Mosely, who was styled the Kentucky 
Pumpmaker, and after fitting us out with every thing 
necessary for a six months trip, we started on the first 
of November for New Orleans, speaking at all the 
principle towns within fifty miles of the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers, commencing at Cincinnati. 

When we arrived in Cincinnati we found the papers 
full of notices of the meeting to come off" that night, 
to be addressed by the Buckeye Blacksmith and Ken- 
tucky Pumpmaker. When the hour arrived for the 
meeting we found a monstrous crowd gathered in front 
of the Court 'House ; my colleague was a well educated 



—100— 

sensible man with good conversational abilities, but 
not a great speaker. It was not, however, intended 
for him to do much speaking, but merely to introduce 
me, which he could do in good style ; he generally 
mixed with the best citizens through the day and pre- 
pared them to hear me at night. The subject that I 
generally spoke upon was the Tariff, which was a new 
thing to most of the people of the South. 

Upon our arrival at Louisville we found the Whigs 
ready to receive us with open arms ; they had not for- 
gotten me since 1840, and we had a great meeting. — 
Here I began to impress upon the people of the South 
the great benefits t at would result from a protective 
Tariff, and the only hope that we had in bringing 
about these measures was the election of Mr. Clay, 
their own immortal statesman. This took like hot 
cakes with the people of that city, and I went away 
from there with more honors than I did in 1840. We 
next visited Frankford, the native place of my friend 
Mosely, where we met a very warm reception, arising 
no doubt to his being a native of that place. 

From Frankford we returned and made our way 
down the river, spoke at several places until we 
reached the mouth of the Cumberland river, where 
we took a steamer for Nashville, the Capital of Ten- 
nessee. Notice of our coming had preceeded us ; here 
I was met by the Hon, John Bell, former Secretary of 
War, under Gen. Harrison, whom I had served under 
while Indian Agent. No sooner had we arrived than 
we were taken in charge by Mr. Bell and Gov. Jones, 
and escorted to the State House ; the Legislature be- 
ing in session, we were introduced to the President of 
the Senate, who, although he was a Democrat, ad' 
journed the Senate and introduced us to the members. 
He then escorted us to the House and introduced us 
to the Speaker, who left the chair and made a motion 
to tender us the use of the House to speak in, and al- 
though both the Houses were Democratic, the motion 



—101— 

was carried by acclamation. Here I found the most 
honorable and manly set of Democrats I ever had 
seen, and began to conclude that there was some de- 
cency to be found among Democrats, and in my speech 
I tried to return their compliments to me by treating 
the party with courtesy. 

My companion, however, made a great mistake by 
abusing Gen. Jackson at his own home, a thing un- 
called for, as he was not before the people for their 
suffrages. I, however, smoothed it over the best I 
could ; I pleased them so well, that the next day I 
was invited by the Democratic President of the Senate, 
to ride up with him in his carriage and pay my re- 
spects to Gen. Jackson, which I did, and received a 
warm greeting from him. He thanked me very cor- 
dially for the manner in which I had referred to him 
the night previous, in my speech. 

The next day after my visit to the old General I 
spoke to a large meeting at Columbia, the home of 
James K. Polk, who was afterwards elected President. 
At this place as well as others, I advocated the princi- 
ples of the Tariff in the strongest terms. This speech 
and the one at Nashville brought out a letter from Mr. 
Polk to the Legislature, condemning the Tariff of 
1842 in the strongest terms, both in principle and de- 
tail ; and on my return to Nashville, to address 
another meeting expressly for the benefit of the ladies 
w^ho had a great desire to hear me, I found Polk's let- 
ter already in print. I secured a number of copies 
for Northern use ; and after speaking to a monstrous 
meeting, at which the ladies turned out by thousands, 
I left Nashville, I believe, with the good wishes of all 
the people. 

We continued our way down the river, speaking at 
most of the larger towns until we reached Memphis, 
where we had a great meeting, and I became very 
popular. A Committee went with us to Jackson, the 
Capital of the State of Mississippi, and here again we 



• —102— 

received a great coriipliment from the Democratic 
Legislature that was in session at the time ; they, by a 
unanimous vote of the House, invited us to seats on the 
floor with the members, and tendered us the use of the 
House to speak in. Here again my companion pitch- 
ed into Jackson in an uncalled for manner, and would 
have had considerable trouble, probably been shot, if 
I had not got the matter settled for him. 

After we left Jackson we went to Vicksburg, and 
from there to Natchez, where we had a great meeting. 
I spoke twice there and left for Baton Kouge ; here we 
had more trouble. My companion got into trouble 
about Jackson, and while I was speaking a drunken 
fellow came into the Court House and thought I was 
the speaker that had abused Jackson ; he drew his pis- 
tol and fired at me, the ball just missed my head and 
struck the wall right by me; the mistake was soon dis- 
covered and he came to me after I was done speaking 
and offered an apology, and through me this trouble 
was settled. 

I began to conclude by this time that I would be 
better without a pioneer than with one and told my 
companion so, and unless he would quit abusing Jack- 
son in this Southern country we would both be killed. 
He agreed to quit it, but on our arrival in New Orleans 
we were met by a large committee, who escorted us to 
the St. Charles hotel, and as a matter of course we 
had to show ourselves on the balcony of the hotel and 
make a few remarks to hundreds that were waiting our 
arrival. Here again my companion pitched into Jack- 
son in the very city he had saved from being burned 
by the British in 1814; I was frightened almost out 
of my wits, but managed to heal up the difficulty by 
telling a few laughable stories, in my funniest style. 

The next day was to be our great meeting at Bank's 
Arcade, the largest hall in the city. The leading Whigs 
called on us, and in a very friendly manner told us 
that they would rather my companion would not speak 



—103— 

for there was a bad feeling towards hira and he had 
better wait a few days before he spoke; it was so ar- 
ranged, Mr, Clay was in the city at that time and 
was desirous to hear me speak ; accordingly the Whigs 
secreted him behind the stand, so that I might not see 
him, for fe^r that if I saw him I would become em- 
barrased. I spoke over two hours explaining the great 
benefits to be derived to the country by the election of 
Henry Clay to the Presidency, During my whole 
speech I was listened to with the most profound atten- 
tion ; at the close of my meeting I was taken in charge 
by the committee and escorted to my hotel, where they 
made arrangements for me to speak in all sections of 
the city for ten days ahead. 

The next mornins: I took a stroll to the Post Office, 
and who should I meet there but Mr. Clay. " Good 
morning Bear," said he, "how are you this morning 
after your great speech last night." "I am very well 
Mr. Clay, and hope to find you well ; how did 
you know that I made a speech last night," said L 
*'Why I heard you," said he, "I was hid right behind 
you and heard everything you said, I was afraid to let 
you see me for fear it might embarras you," said he. 
He then went on to tell me that the course that I was 
pursuing was according to his judgment, calculated to 
do a vast amount of good, that he and some of his 
friends had concluded to keep me in the field until the 
election took place ; he said the committee would take 
charge of me and provide for me, and write letters 
ahead, and fully endorse me to the people of the South 
and when the election was over and all went right, to 
come to him, and he would take good care of me. We 
had a hearty laugh over the little incident of my bring- 
ing him fire to light his segar, when I was a boy ; he 
was much pleased when I told him that all I was and 
ever expected to be I gave him credit for; had he not 
advised me to go to a free country and get education, 
I never could have been what I now am. He said he 



—104— 

felt proud to have such a friend as I, coming as I did, 
from the working class. 

My friend spoke once or twice with me after that, 
and then the committee sent him to Mobile, to prepare 
the way for me. When I was ready to leave, the com- 
mittee furnished me with plenty of money and the 
best of endorsements to the people throughout the South. 
The ladies made me many very valuable presents of 
clothing for mysslf, also many rich presents for my 
daughter. I left New Orleans with the best wishes, not 
only of the Whigs, but many of the Democrats also. 

When I arrived in Mobile my comrade had got the 
people on tip-toe to see me, so much so, that when the 
boat arrived there were hundreds waiting to get a 
glimpse of me. Mr. Wm. E. Preston of South Caro- 
lina, had me in charge, and introduced me to the chair- 
man of the committee who took charge of us, the crowd 
following us to a hotel. As soon as we arived I was 
taken to the balcony of the hotel and introduced to 
the people; order being restored I said, Mr. President 
I feel very proud of this reception, at the hands of a 
people that I have never until this day met. Indeed 
sir, I have met with nothing but the kindest and most 
courteous treatment since I left my Northern home and 
come to the sunny South, for which I feel very proud. 
I know not sir, why it is that the people of all classes 
seem so anxious to see and hear me; it certainly is not 
because of my eloquence as a speaker, or the fine lan- 
guage I use? I am a plain mechanic, without the ad- 
vantage of a classical education, and am therefore un- 
able to use the fine words that a more gifted speaker 
can. I can give no other reason for my popularity 
than this, that I am a very liberal man, believing that 
there are honest men in all parties, and churches, and 
though I may diflTer w'ith you sir, on politics and reli- 
gion, I still believe you are as honest as I am, and that 
your opinions ought to be respected. I hope sir, that 
during my stay among you, that we may all become 



—105— 

better acquainted, and warmer friends. After inviting 
them to come and hear my speech the next afternoon, 
I retired to my room to prepare to receive those tiiat 
wished to call on me. During the afternoon all the 
leading men of both parties in the city called on me, 
and we had a very pleasant time. 

I had by this time discovered that the poor or labor- 
ing men of the South took but little interest in politics ; 
they generally voted as their employers or owners of 
the land they lived on, did; they paid no attention to 
me or but little to my speeches, so I had become satis- 
fied that in order fo reach them I must mix with them. 
I told the Whig committee that it was important for 
me to visit the various work-shops and houses of the 
poor classes of the people, in order to have them hear 
me speak ; they saw the point and accordingly next 
morning I was taken around to all the work-shops and 
places of business in the city, and was introduced to 
working men generally. I cracked a joke or two with 
each, and gave them a special invitation to hear me 
speak ; this seemed to have a very good effect, as many 
of them were much pleased with me, inviting me to 
their houses, and one poor Blacksmith insisted on my 
taking dinner with him, which I did, and it was a 
good one ; his wife and friends were delighted with me 
they said that I was not a big bug like other speakers 
in that country, but a plain man. 

I would here remark that many of our best speakers 
make a great mistake in failing to notice the poor men 
who largely compose their audiences ; they generally 
speak highly of the poor man in their speeches, but 
never notice him before or after the meeting. This is 
a great mistake, for the poor men notice this and talk 
about it. I have often been told by poor men, the 
reason they liked me was that I would talk to them as 
well as to rich men after I was done speaking, by these 
means I have brought many hundred of men to hear 
me and vote my way, that never could have been reach- 
ed in any other manner. 



— 106— 

The result of the course that I had pursued since 
my arrival in the city, brought together that afternoon 
one of the largest meetings ever held in that country. 
The meeting was held in a beautiful grove in a public 
square and we had rich and poor, ladies and gentle- 
men, Democrats and Whigs, in fact every body was 
there. I was introduced as a plain mechanic from the 
North, who had come South well recommended, and 
the attention of the audience was requested to hear 
me on the great tariff question. 

I commenced by saying that from my extensive ac- 
quaintance throughout this broad land of ours, I had 
become satisfied that the American people were polit- 
ically honest, one party as well as the other; so well 
satisfied was I of this fact, that I would have no hesi- 
tation in trusting my life on the prosperity of the coun- 
try in their hands if they could only bo well informed 
on the great issues before them. I then wert on to 
answer the Democratic objections to the protective 
system, and the great advantages arising from protec- 
ting /. merican industry; showing that no country 
could become great which depended on other countries 
for supplies ; that in order to become a great and pros- 
perous Nation we must sell more than we buy to bring 
the balance of trade in our favor ; we nuist divide our 
labor ; let some produce from the soil and others 
manufacture, and thereby create a home market ; 
showing that the nearer w^e could get the producer to 
the consumer the better for both ; while thousands of 
boys and girls were idle in this country they were 
shipping their cotton to Europe and paying boys and 
girls therj for manufacturing it into cloth, and then 
paying for shipping it back again. 

In this way I talked for over two hours, and when I 
closed I was warmly applauded by the great crowd 
that was present, and I w'as pressed by the Whigs to 
speak again for them that night, which I did to another 
monstrous meeting. 



—107— 

I left next morning for Montgomery, but shall never 
forget the people of Mobile, nor the warm reception I 
met at their hands ; I was followed to the host by 
hundreds of them and was cheered loudly until the 
boat was out of sight. 

My companion had preced-ed me to Montgomery 
ani had gotten up a little excitement about me, but I 
soon found that the people of that place had no great 
opinion of greasy mechanics; they treated me very 
well however, and we had a large and very interesting 
meeting. There were few working white men there, 
and I therefore mixed but little among the people. — 
I made my speech and left the next day for a great bar- 
becue that was to be held at Watumkee, a new county 
town some twenty miles from Columbus, Georgia. — 
Here I had a fine time of it ; the main speaker that 
was to speak there failed to come and I had to do all 
the speaking ; here I became very popular, so much so 
that I had some trouble in leaving them. A com- 
mittee from Georgia had met me to take me to Colum- 
bus, but the Alabamians would not let me go but took 
me away to a small town that night to speak again 
and then sent me in a fine carriage the next day to 
meet my engagement at Columbus, Ga. 

My experience in Alabama satisfied me that my 
popularity among them was not their love of a work- 
ing man, but simply for the effect I could produce 
among working men. This, my dear reader, is gen- 
erally the case everywhere ; leading men care but lit- 
tle about us working men only for what they can 
make out of us. Therefore we should work and vote 
for our own interest which is the protection of our owa 
labor by standing by the Tariff. 




CHAPTER V. 

CAMPAIGN IN GEOEGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 
AND VIRGINIA. 

UPON my arrival at Columbus, I found the people 
on tip-toe to see me. Here I found the finest water 
power I had ever seen, but none of it in use; the water 
seemed to tumble from one rock to another, as far as 
I could see up the river, and I made good use of that 
circumstance to aid me in my speech on the tariff that 
night. I told them that I had seen five hundred 
young negro boys and girls, since I had come to their 
city, running about doing nothing, that could manu- 
facture all the cotton goods needed in the place, if 
they only had one live Yankee to put up a factory for 
them. Here said I, you have the water that God has 
given, you have the idle laborers, and you have the 
raw cotton and plenty of money to build factories 
with, and yet you ship your cotton all the way to old 
England and pay her laborers for spinning and weav- 
ing it for you, and then pay for shipping it back again 
for you to use, and let all the young negroes run idle. 
You must think a great deal of the English to spend 
so much money to give them employment, when you 
could manufacture all the cloth that would be needed 



—109— 

in your State, within two miles of where I now stand. 
There is wealth enough in this town to build factories 
sufficient to supply all the wants of this country, and 
in place of letting these young negroes run idle, they 
could earn their masters two or three hundred dollars 
a year working the mills for you. The result of my 
speech, was, that before I left Columbus, they had 
appointed a committee to go to Lowell, Massachusetts 
and investigate the plans of manufacturing, and 
very soon after commenced the manufacturing of 
their own cotton goods. 

I became very popular at Columbus, so much so, 
that they would have given me any amount of money to 
settle there and make it my future home. I have of- 
ten been sorry that I did not do so ; for they were a 
warm hearted, liberal class of people. And whatever 
may have been their faults since, in the rebellion, I 
must say, that in all my travels in life, I never found 
a more high minded, liberal, social, kind hearted set 
of people, both Whigs and Democrats, than I found 
in Georgia. 

I have often wondered how it was possible that 
there could exist so much difference, between a South- 
ern Democrat, and a Northern Copperhead, but such is 
the case. When I meet a Southern Democrat I meet a 
gentleman w^ho will converse freely and in a friendly 
manner with me, invite me to his house, and if I go, 
treat me most kindly, and w^e part in friendship, 
but when I meet a Northern Copperhead, he is very 
likely to insult me the first word he speaks, either 
directly or by insinuations, attacking my character or 
that of some friend of mine; no wonder that I had 
such a poor opinion of the Democratic party before I 
went South. I have not changed my opinion of the 
Northern wing yet. 

I next visited Macon, one of the most beautiful lit- 
tle towns I ever saw, situated on a small river in the in- 
terior of the State, about two hundred miles from Sa- 



—110— 

vannali, a very aristocratic place, but very few poor 
whites living there. I had been so highly spoken of 
by the Whig papers of the country, for my liberality 
toward the opposite party, the Democrats as well as 
the Whigs gave me a cordial welcome among them. I 
spoke there twice, the second time by the invitation 
of the ladies; they were not present at my first meet- 
ing, and hearing of my good natured way of speaking, 
insisted on hearing me, and by the way they smiled 
and waved their kandkerchiefs, I must have pleased 
them. 

I spent one of the happiest Sundays there that I 
ever spent in my life, and on Monday left for the city 
of Savannah, in charge of a committee of both places. 
On reaching Savannah I met the grandest reception I 
ever met except in my own native town (Frederick 
City, Maryland.) Here I found more mechanics than 
I usually found in small Southern cities ; there were 
over three hundred men who met the cars some three 
miles out of the city, where myself and the committee 
were received with great pomp, and escorted into the 
city to the head quarters of the Young Men's Clay 
Club, where there were hundreds of men, women and 
children, white and black, all anxiously waiting to get 
a glimpse of a live Northern working man who could 
make a speech. 

I was taken into head quarters by a back way, and 
hastened to put on a good suit of clothes and was at 
once brought forward to a front platform and intro- 
duced to the people to make a short introductory 
speech. No sooner had I commenced than a young 
sprig of a lawyer after eyeing me very closely, turned 
on his heel and started away swearing, (a blacksmith 
the devil,) that is a gentleman, he is no blacksmith, 
why look at his clothes that will satisfy you. I only 
spoke a few minutes when I was taken to my hotel 
for dinner. Shortly after dinner in came a committee 
who said they were a mixed committee of the two 



—Ill- 
parties, and had called on me to ascertain whether I 
was a blacksmith or not. One young man (a Whig) 
said that he had bet twenty dollars that I could beat 
any man in Savannah making a horse shoe, and from 
what he had read he believed I could. I laughed and 
told him that I thought he would win; this created 
great merriment among the crowd present. 

The bet was made with a boss horse-shoer ; he had 
a black man that made his shoes, and on the strength 
of this man's work he had made the bet. I told them 
I would bet fifty dollars more that I could beat any 
man in the State making a horse-shoe, and let my 
Democratic friend, who had made the bet of twenty 
dollars, be the judge. This was a clincher for the 
Democrats ; they backed down at once, being satisfied 
with the twenty dollar bet. We soon made arrange- 
ments to go to this man's shop who had made the bet, 
to prove who could make the best shoe, (as horse-shoe- 
ing was my trade I had no fears of the result.) There 
went a great crowd with us, so much so, that they had 
to take several boards off the shop for the people to 
see me make the shoe. I went to work and fixed the 
punches to my mind and made the shoe. Before I 
had it done the boss spoke up and said, gentlemen, it 
is no use to talk, I have lost the bet, that is the finest 
formed shoe I ever saw. So I left the shop amidst the 
shouts of my friends. The young man who made the 
bet OK me was rich and did not want the money, so he 
handed me not only the twenty dollars he won but the 
other twenty also. That was the biggest price I ever 
heard of for making a horse-shoe. 

In Savannah there was a small dirty little Demo- 
cratic sheet that had attacked me several times before 
I arrived, as also on the morning after I had made the 
shoe, (but to the honor of the South he was a North- 
ern man,) so when I made my main speech that day 
I pitched into him, (the Whigs having posted me.) — 
Soon after I had finished my speech and was entertain- 



—112— 

iiig some friends in my room at the hotel, I was waited 
on by two young gentlemen, bearers of a challenge from 
this editor, to fight a duel. I read it, smiled, and hand- 
ed it to one of my friends to read aloud. What an- 
swer will you make to it, said my friend. Accept it, 
said I. This of course pleased my friends. I told the 
young men to be seated a few minutes and I would give 
them my answer in writing. Gentlemen, said I, the 
challenged party has the choice of weapons and the 
mode of fighting I believe, in this country. Certainly 
they have, said my friends. Very well, I will fix that 
chap pretty soon, I said, and commenced and wrote 
the following answer : 

Sir! 

Your note of this date inviting me to give 
you satisfaction in mortal combat for words spoken in my speech 
of this date, has been duly received, and in answer I beg leave to 
say that your invitation is accepted. 

I propose to meet you in front of Whig Headquarters at 6 o'clock 
this afternoon precisely. The weapons used are to be our heads — 
we will butt out the difficulty. 

Very respectfully, 

J. W. Bear. 
To J. H. S. 

When I had finished it I handed it to my friend 
who looked over it, and after letting my other friend 
see it I thought they would go into fits laughing. The 
young men refused to carry it so I sent it by one of 
my friends. At the appointed hour I was on hand, 
but the editor failed to come to time. I made a short 
speech to the crowd that gathered around explaining 
the whole affair of the challenge and answer amid the 
wildest laughter of all present. 

The result of this affair caused so much amusement 
that my Whig friends put out posters that night for 
another meeting the next day and it was a monstrous 
affair. My antagonist fiiiled to put in an appearance. 
I paid him up fully in that speech with compound in- 
terest, to the entire satisfaction of all present Demo- 



—113— 

era ts as well as Whigs. Many of the leading Demo- 
crats of the City called on me that afternoon and ex- 
pressed great pleasure at the manner in which I treated 
him, declaring that his attacks on me were uncalled 
for and unmanly. Some of them concluded that he 
would not challenge another Blacksmith very soon. — 
I told these gentlemen that I had not received one in- 
sult through my journey in the Southern States from 
any man born in the South. Whatever insults I had 
received in the South came either from foreigners or 
Northern men, and to the latest hour of my life I 
should never forget the kindness I had received from 
the Southern people. This kind of talk was the crown- 
ing point of my visit to Georgia. I was to leave that 
night at 10 o'clock in the boat for Charleston, South 
Carolina. When the hour arrived for me to leave the 
hotel, more than five hundred men of both parties es- 
corted me to the boat, for fear this editor would make 
an assault on me. When on the boat in charge of a 
committee I made those on shore a short farewell 
speech until the boat left. As she pushed ofi* from 
the shore the crowd made the welkin ring with hur- 
rahs for the Blacksmith. 

There had been great preparation made in Charles- 
ton for us, my colleague going there with me. We 
arrived in the morning and were met at the boat by a 
considerable number in carriages and taken to the 
South Carolina hotel, one of the finest hotels in the 
city ; we were visited during the day by many of the 
leading men of both parties ; the Columbus, Georgia, 
committee on their way East had given them a his- 
tory of my tariff speeches, as also the history of my 
colleague's speeches ; he had been in the habit of 
abusing Gen. Jackson to such a degree that he had 
become very unpopular with the people wherever he 
spoke ; I had great trouble to keep him down, indeed 
in many places they refused to let him speak, putting 
him off with the pretense that one speech was ail the 



—114— 

people cared about listening to. The people of the 
South are a very sensitive kind of people, they will 
listen all night to argument but not to abuse; in 
Charlciiton, Calhoun's home, it was necessary to treat 
him as well as Jackson with the greatest respect, 
they were not before the people for office and it was 
impolitic to say anything about them unkindly, this 
I urged on my colleague ; I hated them as bad as he 
did but still I let them alone and if I spoke of them 
at all I made some favorable allusion to them ; this 
course rendered me very popular with all parties ; the 
committee arranged for me to speak in the theatre 
that night, my colleague to only make a short speech 
introducing me. He could make an excellent intro- 
ductory speech and he did so that night. It was ar- 
ransfed that I should speak on general politics that 
night and on the tariff at the mass meeting the next 
day. We had a large meeting that night, and in 
urging the claims of Mr. Clay for the Presidency I 
spoke of him as one of the great luminaries of the age, 
not to be equaled by any man living except one, need 
I say who that one is, I am too near his home to be 
misunderstood, I mean gentlemen, your own idol John 
C. Calhoun ; it appeared that they would shake the 
house to pieces with their stamping and cheers. — 
This course, my dear reader, is the best policy in all 
cases in politics or any other subject, if you can't say 
any good of a man don't say anything. You cannot 
trap flies with vinegar, molasses is better ; if you want 
to win men to your cause don't abuse their friends, 
differ with all men honestly, and don't think because 
they differ with you that they are bad or dishonest 
men. In this way I made many thousands of friends 
to my cause. 

That night when I arrived at my hotel I was for 
two hours in the parlor receiving the crowd that wish- 
ed an introduction to me, among them, all the leading 
Democrats of the city, they telling me they felt proud 



—115— 

to take a mechanic by the hand from a Northern 
State, who coukl i?pe'ak such favorable things as I had 
about one of their citizens whom they all so much de- 
lighted to honor. 

The next day we had a monster mass meeting in a 
grove. I made my tariff speech ; when I made the 
allusion to the thousands of idle young negroes I had 
seen in their city who could earn their masters ten 
per cent, on their value, it pleased them very much, 
they saw the point very clearly through my explana- 
tions, so that when I was done I met a very warm re- 
ception, everybody seemed to want to shake hands 
with me from the richest to the poorest. 

I was met here by a delegation of men representing 
the ladies, inviting nae to speak for them on female 
influence at the theatre that night. I accepted it. — 
We had the place packed an hour befor the time for 
speaking, by the elite of the city, all anxious to see 
and hear a blacksmith speak ; at the close of my 
speech the chairman said that many of the ladies 
wished to shake hands with me, which I considered 
the greatest compliment I ever received, and told them 
so, they were as fine a specimen of Southern ladies as 
I ever saw\ I stood for a long time and was intro- 
duced to many hundreds of them, many thanking me 
for the favorable allusion I made to them as well as 
their gentlemen friends, particularly Mr. Calhoun. I 
left the next day for Columbia, a beautiful little in- 
land town some forty miles from there ; I spoke to a 
large meeting there, and then returned to Charleston 
on my way to North Carolina. 

On my arrival at Wilmington, N. C, I found a 
very different class of people, they w^ere not as intel- 
ligent as I had generally found them through the 
South, there were more poor white men and less ne- 
groes, and more of the middle class than I had found 
through the Southern States, We had a large mass 
meeting the night that I arrived there, and the first 



—lie- 
time for months I spoke to a large proportion of work- 
ing m.en. This brought me into my right element for 
my hobby had been the workingman's interest. I 
spoke at length on that subject in connection with a 
protective tariff. My speech that night would have 
been a grand success had it not been that just before 
I got through a fire broke out in a large hotel in the 
vicinity of the meeting which broke it up, and it was 
an awful fire, it burnt up nearly the whole city ; my- 
self and colleague could get no quarters that night, 
but worked all night helping in extinguishing the 
flames; the next day we left for Raleigh, the capital 
of the State, had a fine time there, and then left for 
Petersburg, Va., where we arrived two days in ad- 
vance of our meeting ; my colleague had relations in 
Richmond so he went ahead to prepare the way for 
me. I had a fine tkne in Petersburg making them a 
short speech the night after my arrival to prepare the 
way for our great mass meeting that was to come oflf. 
In my speech that night I spoke very flatteringly of 
their pretty town and also their ladies. The result of 
my speech that night had the eflTect of bringing out 
the largest meeting ever held in that place ; the ladies 
turned out by hundreds not only from the city but 
from the surrounding country ; here I had a fair 
chance to speak on my great hobby the advantage of 
protection to American industry ; a large number of 
laboring men were present, and they were much pleased 
at my allusion to them in my remarks on the subject 
of the tarifl^. I made some very happy allusions to the 
ladies in saying that with their smiles and influence 
we expected to win. 

We gained the day four years ago 
For all the girls helped you know, 
And now they all enlist again 
And go for Clay with might and main. 

CHORUS— 

Then get out the way with your foul party, 
We are the sirls of 1840. 



—117— 

I sung them this song that I had composed for the 
campaign. 

This brought the meeting down with the wildest 
applause, everybody wanted a copy ; a printer present 
agreed to furnish them with plenty of copies, which 
he did in a few minutes. 

I left there the most popular man that ever lived, 
not only the ladies but the working men flocked 
around me to bid me farewell as I was to leave for 
Richmond that night in charge of their committee. 

The next morning soon after breakfast the Whigs 
began to call on me, and to show me the Richmond 
Enquirer which had mistook my colleague's speech 
the night before for mine. I have not yet made a 
speech there having only arrived at a late hour at 
night, but my colleague had spoken to a large meet- 
mg and had pitched into Jackson and the editor of 
the Enquirer in his usual way, so the editor pitched 
into me by mistake. My friends told me that I must 
go to him and make him agree to make an apology 
in his paper, and if he refused, I must shoot him down 
in his office. They supplied me with a pistol and I 
went for him, two of my friends going with me. I 
called on the gentleman ,and asked him if he was the 
author of the article in his paper alluding to me. He 
said it was handed in by one of his local editors, he 
had not written it himself I told him the 
whole thing was a falsehood as I could prove that I 
was not at the meeting neither had I ever made a 
speech in Richmond, and I therefore demanded a re- 
traction of the whole matter in his next issue. He 
very politely told me that it was not his desire to do 
me or any other man injustice and would very cheer- 
fully exonerate me the next morning, which he did. 
I invited him to come and hear me speak, he 
did so and I treated him very politely. So the next 
morning he spoke in very honorable terms of me, only 
saying that I had better be at home in my shop, than 



—US- 
learning Virginians politics. My meeting was a 
grand affair, the Whigs had built "a large wig warn, 
the largest I ever saw, it would seat ten thousand 
people and was packed to overflowing. My colleague 
having prepared the people the night before, there 
were thousands of ladies there and T sung my song 
with good effect and think that I made the best speech 
that night, that I ever made. Several gentlemen 
present who heard me before, said that I outdone 
myself. 

That night at the hotel the State Committee paid 
me a visit to engage my services for their Spring elec- 
tion that was to come of in about six weeks. They 
told me that I should have all the money I wanted 
to spend and for my services also, but that I must 
get rid of my colleague, he would undo all that I 
could do. So the next morning I frankly told him 
what they had said, and that we now must part, and 
each one take his own course. He felt very much 
hurt at the arrangement, got angry and left for Ohio, 
his home. I stayed with them until their election 
came off, speaking in all the principle places in 
Eastern Virginia. In many places in the lower part 
of the State I found a very ignorant class of people, 
the most ignorant I had ever met with. At one small 
place, some of the men refused to hear me speak on 
the tariff for fear they might catch it, thinking it 
was a disease that was catching ; some of them refused 
to shake hands with me. On one occasion I was 
travelling along a country road and was quite sick. I 
came across a small country tavern. I called and 
although I was not in the habit of drinking liquors, 
I asked the landlord, a big dirty looking fellow, if he 
had any good brandy, he said it ought to be good, for 
he paid eighty cents a gallon for it by the wholesale 
in Norfolk, for he had bought two quarts at a time, 
and it was old, for he bought it last Fall. I said I am 
sick let me have it without so much talk. He set out 



—119— 

the bottle, I poured out some and asked him for some 
sugar; he reached his hand into a gourd hanging 
against the wall and took a little brown sugar in his 
fingers and put it into my brandy, took his pocket 
knife, with which he cut his tobacco, and stirred it up. 
I said give me a little mint, I saw some growing near 
the house, he stepped out and got some and stirred it 
in the brandy. I said now a little ice if you please, 
he looked at me and said, look here man, I thought 
you was a fool when you first came in, now I know it, 
who the devil ever heard tell of ice this time of the 
year. Now this man was fifty years old and a good 
Democrat, and had never heard of ice being kept for 
use in Summer. This fellow was and is now a fair 
specimen of many of the poor whites of the South, and 
one of course opposed to negro equality as they 
call it. 

I found soon after my arrival in Virginia that the 
Democrats were more of the stamp of the Northern 
than the Southern. They were envious and ready to 
do any dirty job that their leaders want done. They 
were destitute of that high sense of honor that I found 
in the Democrats further South. On my arrival in 
Norfolk I found that they had got a poor drunken 
creature of foreign birth to go before a Magistrate and 
swear that a few weeks previous he traveled with me 
in the cars from Baltimore to Washington and I had 
publicly declared, that I would never vote for 
any man but an Abolitionist. This they had printed 
in circular form and scattered all over the town. My 
friends came to me and told me that I must satisfy the 
people that it was not true, or my influence would be 
destroyed ; well gentlemen, said 1, that is easily done. 
I did not say such things, neither was I within a 
thousand miles of there at the time he swears I was, 
neither have I been in Washington for three years. 
I will show you where I was at the time sworn to. I 
went to my trunk and got the New Orleans paper, 



—120— 

which contained a long account of my ten days speak- 
ing there, as also my departure for Mobile, and speak- 
ing in the highest terms of me. There gentlemen, 
you see that I was speaking in New Orleans on the 
very day that he says I was in Washington. You see 
that I have no wings and the impossibility of my being 
there, I also have papers here for almost every week 
fer three months before that time, giving an account 
of my speaking in the South and Southwest at the 
same time handing them a bundle of papers, to prove 
my statements. They said that I had so fully vindi- 
cated myself, that they would stand by me at all 
hazards. 

The next question was, what shall I do with this 
fellow. Shoot him, said one. He is not worth it, 
said another. Said I, gentlemen I think the best 
way for me is to denounce him at my meeting as a 
liar, a scoundrel and a coward, and that no man of 
respectability dare take it up, and if they do, shoot 
him. That's the plan, they all cried and raised to 
their feet gave me three times three cheers. 

Well, at 3 o'clock that afternoon our mass meeting 
came off. As soon as I was introduced I took the 
circular and read it and said : Now Mr. President and 
gentlemen, I will show you that this whole thing is 
as false and as base as hell, and that the author of it 
is a liar, a scoundrel and a coward, and I here say, 
that no man of respectability dare take it up for him. 
This created some exitement for the moment, I then 
took out my papers and read the articles above 
referred to, handing them to the President to look 
over ; he immediately arose and said gentlemen of 
this large meeting, this gentleman has so fully shown 
his innocence in this matter, that I propose three 
cheers for him and three groans for his adversary and 
they were given with a will. I then went on and 
made my speech to the entire satisfaction of all my 
friends, and at the conclusion of my speech I said, 



—121— 

that if any gentleman wished any satisfaction from me 
for anything that I had said, they would find me at 
any hour at my hotel during to-day and to-morrow 
until 3 o'clock. This raised a monster shout on my 
side. But none of them called, they were ashamed of 
their conduct. 1 left Norfolk with flying colors, and 
spoke the next day at Portsmouth to a delighted 
audience; hundreds of the Whigs came to me and 
congratulated me on my success in backing down the 
Democrats of Norfolk. 

After speaking at several other small places, I re- 
turned to Richmond to speak at Hanover Court House, 
the birth place of Mr. Clay. It had been arranged 
for me to debate the tariff question. We spoke two 
hours each, although he was a fine speaker he did not 
understand the practical workings of a protective tariff. 
At the close (for I had the closing hour,) many of 
his Democratic friends acknowledged that I had the 
best of him. Mr. Hunter paid me a compliment, he 
told the audience that he bad spoke with me on the 
Whig stump and that he knew me to be a very clever 
fellow, and he was sorry that I was not a Democrat. 

From there I commenced a tour up the James river, 
speaking at various places, without anything occuring 
to mar my happiness, until I reached Lynchburg ; 
here I met a very dirty editor of a very dirty sheet; 
he had pitched into me before I come, and at my 
meeting I let him have a few shots with the tongue ; 
he was there and began to growl a little, he wondered 
how I knew so much about him ; he forgot that my 
friends would post me, — I knew all about him 
before I began to speak, he knew nothing about me ; 
when I was told that it was the editor that was grumb- 
ling so much, I said : "what noise is that, I hear some- 
thing like the bleating of a calf, I wonder if the old 
cow its mother knows it is out." This raised a loud 
laugh, the poor editor began to back out ; I sung out, 
"don't leave I will let up on you," this only increased 
*6 



—122— 

the merriment, when I spoke up and said : "gentle- 
men, men's heads are like tubs, they don't all hold the 
same quantity, you can only fill a tub full, whatever 
you put in after it is full will run over, so it is with 
men's heads, you can only fill them so full, and if you 
undertake to put any more in it will run out ; now I 
have filled that fellows head full, and the noise you 
hear is the overplus running out." This set the crowd 
wild with laughter amid which the poor editor made 
tracks for his office, and I finished my speech. 

What fools men are to insult a stranger that they 
know nothing about, they may be certain that some 
friend will post him, and that he will have the best of 
it, this has happened with me hundreds of times. The 
next place I spoke at after I left Lynchburg, a drunken 
fellow contradicted me when the chairman whispered 
to me, and said : "don't mind him, he is of no account 
he has been in jail for stealing geese and corn," I went 
on and very soon he began again, I said: "I hear a 
goose making a noise out there, will some gentleman 
be so good as to give it a handful of corn to keep it 
still until I am done speaking." Well, that was 
enough, the crowd roared and clapped for a long time, 
and finally this fellow dared me down to fight; I jump- 
ed down and made for him, but he took to his heels 
across the field and I after him, but he out-ran and 
got away from me ; when I got back to the stand there 
was the wildest excitement I ever saw, everybody, 
Democrats and Whigs congratulating me on my suc- 
cess in ridding the meeting of such a noisy customer. 
I finished my speech and left the same evening for 
Staunton, a beautiful town in the Valley of Virginia ; 
here I had a fine time ; this was the home of A. A. H. 
Stuart, the then great and active Whig of that part 
of the State. We had a large meeting and I fully met 
their expectations. Mr. Stuart had made an appoint- 
ment for himself and me at Harrisonburg for the next 
day. 



—123— 

HarrisoDburg was the great centre of the tenth le- 
gion as it was called, the whole county was one way, 
it was the Gibralter of Democracy ; they had bid de- 
fiance to any Whig speaker and dared them to come 
there ; we went and found the town alive with Demo- 
crats swearing that if we attempted to speak there, 
that they would duck us iu the river ; we had but 
three or four friends there to sustain us against more 
than a hundred drunken men, so we quietly got into 
our carriage and left. This was the first and only 
time that ever I was backed out from making a speech 
in my life. 

I then had but a few days to speak before the elec- 
tion, so my next appointment was Winchester ; here I 
met some of the best Whigs I ever met, we had a fine 
time ; I had a debate with one of their candidates on 
the tariff, we debated part of two days; I beat him and 
he was defeated at the election a few days after and 
all hands gave me the credit of defeating him. I 
spoke at Charleston, Martinsburg and finally wound 
up the campaign at Shepardstown, and returned to 
Winchester to stay until the day after election, which 
resulted in favor of the Whig ticket in that county, 
and I got the credit for it. 

I then left for my home in Ohio to rest until the 
campaign opened in Pennsylvania which was in a few 
days. 




CHAPTER VI. 

TOUR THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA. — VIEWS UPON 
THE TARRIFF. 

I ARRIVED safe home in Ohio about the 10th of 
May, after an absence of over seven months, and 
after having travelled many thousand miles and 
averaged about one speech per day, I was worn 
down and needed rest very much. ] had kept the 
Ohio committee posted with my operations. I had sent 
the papers regularly, so that when I returned they 
understood all about my trip. I was sent for however 
and had to make a speech and give a general detail 
of everything that occurred of any interest, 

I intended to remain at home and rest myself until 
the first of July and then open a campaign in Penn- 
sylvania. But in a few days after my return home 
I received and accepted an invitation to attend the 
Young Mens ratification meeting to be held inSyracuse, 
New York, which was to come ofi'onthe 12th of June, 
so on the first of June I packed up and started for 
another tour. I went to this meeting, spoke there 
twice amid the greatest enthusiasm. The New Yorkers 
tryed their best to keep me in their State, but I had 
made an engagement with the Pennsylvania committee 



—125— 

to speak for them. I have often been sorry that I did 
not stay in New York. I might have been the 
means of carrying the State for Clay and thereby have 
elected him. But he never was intended for President 
of the United States, he was too great a man for 
that. 

By the time that I got into Pennsylvania both 
parties had fairly opened the campaign. Mr. Polk 
had been nominated, and the Democrats knowing that 
Pennsylvania would not vote for an anti-tarriff 
man, got up a letter, known as the Kane letter, 
pretending that it came from Mr. Polk; Mr. Polk 
however never saw it until it was published in the 
news papers. I had taken the precaution when in 
Tennessee (having brought Polk out with a letter by 
my tariff speeches in that State to the legislature in 
opposition to the whole system of protection, they had 
it printed and circulated in pamphlet form) to supply 
myself with half a dozen copies, not thnking however 
that he .would be the candidate, he aspired to the 
Vice Presidency. 

When this letter made its appearance, I at once 
ofiset that letter with his letter to the Tennessee Legis- 
lature, I had plenty of the original pamphlets from 
Tennessee. The Democrats, James Buchanan at their 
head, pronounced my pamphlets a forgery. I went 
to their committee and ofiered to enter into bonds of 
ten thousand dollars for the faithful performance of 
our contract, which was this: The Whigs should 
appoint a man of character and the Democrats should 
also appoint one. These two should take the Kane 
letter and Polks' Tennessee letter and go to Mr. Polk 
in person and present them to him. If he denied the 
Tennessee letter to have been written by him or if he 
said he wrote the Kane letter, the Whigs were to pub- 
lish the facts on his return. But if Mr. Polk owned 
that he wrote the Tennessee letter and not the Kane 
letter, the Democrats were to publish the facts on their 



—126— 

return, aod the "Whigs to pay all expenses. Their 
committee only laughed at me; they said, we under- 
stand our own mode of electioneering, and although 
w^e published the whole proceedings and challenged 
them to deny it, they only answered us by making 
personal attacks on my character. 

On one occasion Mr. Buchanan spoke at North- 
umberland, and in my presence declared that he 
knew Mr. Polk to be a better tariff man than Mr. 
Clay, and when I replied to his speech that night, the 
Democrats stoned me from the stand, and it was some 
time before we could rally a force to sustain me until 
I got through. In this way they have always met 
our arguments. As soon as it was known that I was 
using this Tennessee letter with some effect, they 
commenced to slander me in all their dirty papers 
throughout the Stafe, and many of them "went so far 
as to advise my assasination. At that time I carried a 
revolver and a bowie knife, and on several occasions 
had to walk from the stage to the hotel door with 
pistol and knife in my hands; they very often made 
attacks on me in the cars and stages, and some times 
in private carriages and at hotels. 

On one occasion on the Sabbath day I came to 
Philadelphia in the cars, and while the cars were 
being switched on the right track to be taken into the 
depot, several rail road men, who had been insulting 
all the way from Harrisburg, jumped out of the cars 
and ran to the depot and collected a large crowd 
around the cars wherein I was and surounded me as 
I got out. I suspected them and told them to let me 
pass. Before I left the cars I had my hand at my 
revolver, and when they refused to stand away, I 
drew it and said if you don't stand back, 1 will kill 
six of you with this, and hauling out my big bowie 
knife that weighed two pounds, and with this I can 
cut my way in any crowd. Several of the passengers 
from the other cars saw the trouble, and after finding 



—127— 

that I was to be mobed, interfered, and I was thereby 
enabled to make my escape. 

The Whig papers denounced this outrage on Monday 
morning, and in reply on Tuesday, the Democratic 
papers said, if I did not like Pennsylvania treatment, 
I had better go back to Ohio, thereby virtually giving: 
encouragment to the mob to take my life. Almost 
every place I went I had to let them know, that I 
was well armed to save myself from an attack, and on 
several occasions I got down from the stand where I 
was speaking, and thrashed one of them. 

I have spoken in and travelled through some twenty 
six states and am bound to say that the Democrats 
of Pennsylvania are the most ignorant and meanest 
Democrats that I ever saw. In the seven mouths, that 
I spoke in the South, I did not receive one insult from 
any Democrat that was born in that country. They 
always disagreed with me in an honorable way, but 
the Pennsylvania Democrats were always for insulting 
me without hearing me. At one place an old chap 
got up while I was speaking and said the Democrats 
ought not to let me speak. Why not, said I, aint this 
a free country ? Yes, but I heard that you said, you 
could whip any Democrat in the county, did you say 
that ? I looked at him and laughed. I answered yes, 
I did say it and I never tell lies. This raised a great 
laugh. I told the old man, that I would make a fair 
bargain with the county committee. I would give a 
bond for ten thousand dollars and they should do the 
same, conditioned that I was to fight every Democrat 
in the county. Every one I whipped should vote fcr 
Clay, and for every one that whipped me I would furnis h 
a Whig to vote for Polk. I told him that I could 
make votes faster that way than by talking. This 
created quite a laugh in the crowd, even among some 
of the Democrats, who admired my pluck, as they 
called it. 

I have no doubt, but that the great opposition that 



—128— 

was brought to bear against me, was on account of 
the manner in which I presented the tariff question to 
the people. I have often been amused at the way 
that some of our great speakers talked about that 
subject. They would talk very loudly about a pro- 
tective tariff and tell the paople that it was their 
interest to stand by protection, but never once tell the 
practical workings of this system. My plan was to go 
into the practical workings of a protective tariff, first 
show them that if they depended on Europeans for 
their supplies, that they would first have to find a 
market for their products, convert it into money and 
then send that money to Europe, pay for these goods 
and never see that money again, that in the course 
of time they would exhaust the country of money and 
then we would be a nation of paupers. 

I told them that the same rule that operated on a 
farmer would operate on a nation. If a farmer pro- 
duced from his farm five hundred dollars worth of 
produce to sell, and it cost him six hundred to produce 
it, he would loose a hundred dollars and have to 
pay the difference from his own pocket, and be the 
looser of a hundred dollars every year. So it was 
with a nation ; if we bought a million every year from 
other nations more than we sold, we would have to 
pay the balance of trade out of our treasury, and in 
this way become a bankrupt nation. But, says the 
freetrader, a tariff for protection is a tax on the con- 
sumer. I admit that it is. But I will show you the 
consumer can pay the tax, and have more money left, 
than he would have if we had no tariff. First you 
will admit that without any protection our laborers 
would have to work at the same prices that European 
laborers do, which is about forty cents a day, with 
this small pittance they could not support their families. 
The result would be that they would have to turn 
their attention to agricultural pursuits, this of course 
would lessen the demand for produce and increase the 



i 



-129— 



supply. This course would increase the products of 
the soil, and destroy a home market for it, which 
would be the means of lessening its value. Foreign 
countries only buy from us the amount they need for 
theitr consumption, and no more. They would buy 
just as much from us, as they now do, if we manufac- 
tured all our own fabric and did not buy a dollars 
worth of theirs. 

Our true policy therefore is to divide our labor, 
let one portion of our labor be turned to manuiac- 
turingiron, others cloth, others cotton goods, others 
boots and shoes, others the thousands of other small 
articles needed by every body. All these men and 
women and their families have to eat, and will 
consume all the surplus produce that the farmers 
have, thereby giving a home market to them, and 
save them the trouble of finding a foreign market. 

Take for example, a farmer wants a new coat, there 
is now English cloth in the market, he can get it for 
four dollars a yard for cash ; he has'plenty of produce, 
there is no demand for it at home, every body else 
has plenty as well as himself^ he is compelled to seek 
a foreign market for it, the result is by the time he 
converts it into cash, he gets but a small price for it. 
But suppose that there is a factory in his neighborhood 
where cloth is made, employing three or four 
hundred people, who all want to eat; the farmer 
loads his cart with the necessaries of life, goes down 
to the factory, tells the foreman that he wishes two 
yards of cloth, but has no money, but that he has a 
cart-load of provisions at the door. All right, says the 
man, we have five hundred hungry men, women and 
children here, that must have their breakfast ; unload, 
that's what we want this morning, sir. The result is , 
he sells his produce at a fair price, gets his cloth and 
is back hom<i again by breakfast time. So it is with 
iron, boots and shoes and every article commonly 
used. 



—130— 

Now I ask you Mr. Freetrader, is this not better for 
all hands? which is best, give a man fifty cents a day 
and let him buy flour at three dollars a barrel, or 
give hira one dollar and fifty cents a day and compel 
him to pay nine dollars a barrel for his flour. At 
fifty cents a day it would take him six days to earn a 
barrel of flour and he would have ten dollars left for 
his other twenty days work for a month; give him 
one dollar and fifty cents a day, and let him pay nine 
dollars for a barrel of flour and he will have thirty 
one dollars left for twenty other days of that month 
and thus it is with every other article he uses. The 
more wages you pay a man for labor, the better not 
only for him but for the whole country. An Irishman 
on one occasion grumbled at the price of a peck of 
potatoes that the market man wanted two shil- 
lings for. Faith, said Pat, but I could buy them 
in Ireland for six pence. You ought to have stayed 
there, said the market man. But, said Fat, the 
divil of it w^as to get the six pence to buy them with. 
Thus you see, a man can better aftbrd to pay nine 
dollars for an article at one dollar and fifty cents a 
day, than he could affc)rd to pay three dollars for 
an article at fifty cents a day. 

I have in my young days bought in Ohio as good 
beef and pork as ever went on a table, for one dollar 
and fifty cents per hundred, and as good flour as 
bread was made from at on e dollar per hundred pounds, 
and the finest chickens at fifty cents a dozen, ready 
for the oven, and every other article in proportion. 
Why was it so ? I will tell you, there was no man- 
ufacturing going on, every body was producing and 
very few buying; no home market. 

Well, says my free trade friend, why can't we 
compete with foreign markets? I will tell you. As 
soon as we establish our factories and get them under 
way without a tarifl", these old foreign establishments 
having millions in their hands, put the prices down 



—131— 

below the actual cost of making them at home, and 
flood our country at a loss of a large sum. People 
will buy, where they can get the cheapest : the result 
is, our factories are compelled to stop, they have not 
the capital to stand the pressure. As soon as our 
works stop, goods take a sudden rise in the foreign 
market, and they make up all they lost last year and 
a good profit on the whole, then if our works start 
again, down goes foreign goods, it is their large 
capital, that thus enables them to crush us. 

I once knew a Company to put an opposition boat 
on the James river from Richmond to Norfolk, the 
old line charged five dollars fare, without meals, the 
new line charged three dollars without meols. The 
old line was very rich, had plenty of capital, they 
immediately put the fare down to nothing, and in a 
few weeks, because the new line hung on, the old 
line gave their passengers their dinners in the bargain. 
Every body knows that they could not afford this. 
They did operate it at a dead loss for six months, 
and as soon as the new line was taken off, for the 
want of passangers, up went the old line again to 
five dollars and meals extra. 

Now if the travelling public had patronised the new 
line in place of travelling on the old line for nothing, 
they would always have had the fare at a fair price, but 
as it was they had cheap fare for a short time and then 
as before had to pay double fare. So it is with Amer- 
ican manufacturers in competing with those wealthy 
foreigners; they have not the capital to do it with. It 
is our best policy to sustain our own workshops in 
their infancy ; but they say our manufacturers are get- 
ing rich too fast. Which is best I pray 5^ou, to help to 
build up rich establishments at home where the money 
that they make, will be spent among us, where we can 
have a chance to get some of it, (for th<^se men do not 
make their money, it is made by others, and while they 
are making their boss rich they are making some foi 



—132— 

themselves; stop the boss from making anything and 
you cut ofl' the supply of his workmen,) or help to 
make the foreign manufacturer rich in a foreign nation 
where we will never see a dollar of it while we live. 

The best plan is to keep money at home, these rich 
men can't eat money, neither can they get fine horses 
carriges and fine clothes without money ; it takes money 
for everything they get, and it is impossible for money 
to circulate without all hands getting a share of it, in 
iome way or other, this is my plan. 

In this style I talked to the people at that time, my 
friends saw as well as the Democrats that this plan of 
presenting the subject, was calculated to do our cause 
good, they at once made arrangements to send me into 
the manufacturing portions of the State, aud for this 
purpose hired a horse and wagon and started me in 
company with another man on a tour through the 
Northern portion of the State. 

As soon as we commenced our tour, I found the 
country flooded with hand bills, calling Democratic 
meetings at the same time and place that my meeting 
was called, heading their bills with Polk Dallas and 
the TariflT of '42 ; this they done to off-set my Tariff 
speeches and to draw their friends from hearing me 
speak, and when I would urge the tariff question these 
fellows would say "that is just what we are for," when 
they knew it was a falsehood. 

On one occasion after I was done speaking I went 
over to their stand to hear what they had to say, their 
speaker was reading the Congressional Globe, giving a 
speech as he said of Mr. Clay in the Senate against 
protection, which was very bitter against the tariff. 
This said he is the opinion of Mr. Clay their great 
champion. There were plenty of Whigs there to sus- 
tain me, so I sung out, that what you have read is false, 
that is not Mr. Clay's speech, but C. C. Clay's speech 
of Alabama, a full grown Democrat. This created 
a terrible commotion among the Democrats, he claimed 



—133— 

thai his frieuds had not interrupted me while I was 
speaking, and that I must not interrupt him while he 
spoke; tell the truth said I and we will not interrupt 
you; I dared him to show the speech to his audience 
that he had just read, and if they did not say that it 
was 0. 0. Clay's speech in place of Henry Clay's speech 
I would apologise. He insisted on his rights to speak 
and read as he pleased at h'ns own meeting, and I insist- 
ed that he had no right to falsify the records of the 
Senate of the United States; I said that I had one of 
the same records at the hotel, and could prove in five 
minutes that what he had read was a falsehood. He 
still refused to let me have his book ; all right said I 
and I went to the hotel got my book and returned to 
their stand, with my Congressional Globe of the same 
date of his, and sung out, now gentlemen all of you 
who wish to hear me prove that fellow a liar, step over 
to our stund and I will show you that what he has 
read as being Clay's speech is false. All of the Whigs 
and half the Democrats followed me, and in five min- 
utes I had them convinced of the truth of what I had 
said ; I came off that day with flying colors. 

Their plan was not to organize their meeting until 
we got about half through, then organize and endeavor 
to draw the people away from our meeting; at this they 
generally failed, as the people would stay to hear me 
through. At one place their committee called on us 
and said as the people all wanted to hear me, they 
would not begin their meeting until I got through with 
my speech; all right that is fair, said I, in that way the 
people can hear both sides. As soon as they had left I 
told my committee my plan, which was to speak all 
the afternoon or until I had drove the people all away. 

The meeting was organized at two o'clock, and I 
was introduced and commenced speaking. I went on 
slowly, read long paragraphs from papers and contin- 
ued to speak until eight o'clock that night ; by this 
time I had driven every Democrat, but their speaker 



—134— 

from the ground, and then said, with these few remarks 
I will leave the subject with you until I hear the other 
side, I hope gentlemen, that you will remain and hear 
what the honorptble gentleman before us has to say. 
There were but about thirty present who at once retir- 
ed. My friends surrounded me that night at the hotel 
congratulating me on my success in so completely put- 
ting down the Democracy that day. 

I continued on from day to day to speak snd debate 
with the leading men of their party, for a week or 
two after the meeting just referred to, when the State 
election took place in that State. Gen. Markle was 
the Whig candidate for Governor and was defeated by 
Mr. Shunk the Democratic candidate, by near five 
thousand majority. Markle was a weak man and 
never ought to have been nominated; he had no 
strength with the people, and was put on the ticket 
by a set of tricky politicians, who expected to use 
him for their purposes, if elected. 

I never doubted his defeat from the time I began 
to canvass the State, and quietly told some of the 
leaders so. I saw very plainly in mixing with the 
people, that Shunk had a stronger hold upon them, 
than Gen. Markle had. He was very popular being 
widely known and known, only to be loved ; while I 
was satisfied that Shunk would carry the State in Oc- 
tober, I was equally satisfied that Clay would carry it 
in November. 

The election came off and I had a day or two to 
rest ; we had no telegraph then, and very few railroads, 
the result was we were some days without knowing 
who was elected. As soon as it was known that Shunk 
had carried the State by five thousand majority, the 
Democrats became very jubilant, and the Whigs were 
a little down in the mouth, but went to work with re- 
newed energy, to regain for Clay, what we had lost on 
Gen. Markle, and accordingly made arrangements 
for me to speak through all the Western counties, 



—135— 

closing the campaign in the city of Erie, the Saturday 
before the election on Tuesday the 4th of November. 

I found it up-hill work after being defeated, to rally 
the people around me. The Democrats took another 
plan of electioneering, in place of holding meetings ; 
they went around among the people and said the State 
election had settled the question, and that the Whigs 
only held those meetings to keep up appearances ; that 
it wa.s all a lie that the Buckeye Blacksmith was to 
speak there ; that he had given it up and gone home. 
In this way they managed to keep thousands of their 
own party and many of the Whigs from our meetings. 
The only course we had to pursue, was to get to the 
town early and go around among the people through 
the day and show ourselves and tell them that we 
were going to have a meeting that night. Even this 
plan they tried to bafSe, by following us around and 
swearing that I was an imposter ; that I was not the 
original blacksmith, and some went so far as to come 
and tell me so to my face. I had on several occasions 
to find some person who had heard me speak in 1840, 
to come forward and vouch that I was the man. In 
this way I fought my way through from town to town, 
until I reached Erie, where I made the last speech in 
that ever memorable campaign of 1844. 

The defeat of Mr. Clay was the hardest blow that 
I had ever recieved; he had been the idol of my life, 
I had learned to love him when a boy, and as I grew 
older my friendship ripened almost into idolatry, so 
much so, that I really believe that I would have given 
everything that I possessed on earth to have elected him 
to the Presidency, but an all wise Providence willed 
it otherwise. 

I now made up my mind that I would forever after 
abandon politics, which resolution however to my sor- 
row I failed to keep, being satisfied that the slave 
power of the South had such a strong hold upon the 
Democracy of the North, that no man could be elect- 



—136— 

ed to the Presidency who was not in full sympathy 
with the slave interest, which Mr. Clay was not, (al- 
though he owned a number of slaves at the time ;) and 
this was one of the causes of his defeat, (and the prin- 
cipal one ) They were afraid to trust him on that 
subject, and in order to defeat him sent millions of 
dollars to the North to be put into the hands of their 
allies to defeat him in New York, and Pennsylvania, 
and through trickery and falsehood and ballot box 
stuffing, were able to accomplish their object. There 
never was a more villainous or deeper laid plan to 
defeat the wishes of the people of any nation, than 
that laid to defeat Mr. Clay. I will here give you 
some of their plans, and you can judge for yourselves 
of the fairness of them, (no wonder God frowned on 
them.) 

During the campaign in which Clay was defeated, 
the Democrats throughout Pennsylvania and other 
Northern States, who were interested in a tariff, head- 
ed all their calls for meetings with, Polk, Dallas and 
the Tariff of '42, thereby misleading many thousand 
of the honest, hard working men of the country, 
when at the same time they knew that Mr. Polk was 
opposed to protection and would sign a bill for the 
repeal of the tariff of '42, if elected, which he did 
among his first pubic acts after he came into office. 
And as soon as he signed the bill that was passed by 
the casting vote of their Vice President, who was 
a strong tariff man, a few months before, the party 
with one voice declared that the whole system of 
protection was a wrong, and that every body knew 
that the Democracy were opposed to the tariff of '42. 
Why was this done, the slave power gave the com- 
mand and the doe-faces had to obey. 

It was necessary in order to elect Mr. Polk that he 
should appear as a free trader in the South, and a 
tariff man at the North. And when the Whigs con- 
fronted them in the South, with a Northern handbill 



--137-- 

for a meeting, they would get around it, by calling it 
a Whig lie ; so also in the North. In this way they 
cheated the people into voting for Mr. Polk in both 
sections of the country. Mr. Polk was said to be an 
honest man, at least he was called so by his friends, 
now I submit it to any candid man to say, was it hon- 
est in him to allow his friends to declare him a tariff 
man in the North to deceive them, when he knew he 
was not, answer me if you can. 



CHAPTER VII. 

DAGUEREOTYPING— SCOTT AND PIERCE CAMPAIGN — 
KNOWNOTHINGISM — SICK AND PENNILESS. 

ON the day of the election I returned home in time 
to vote, almost penniless and broken down in 
health after a years hard labor speaking in the South 
in favor of Henry Clay's nomination, and in the North 
in favor of his election after he was nominated in 
Baltimore in May of that year. 

As soon as the election was over and I had got a 
little rested, I concluded to leave the West and go East 
where I thought there was a better chance to get a 
start in life than in the West ; I therefore went to 
Philadelphia where some of my old Whig friends as- 
sisted me with funds to learn and start the daguerro- 
type business. I started my business in Philadelphia, 
but owing to its being a new thing I did not succeed 
as well as I expected, so I packed up in the Spring of 
1845 and went to Boston, believing that if ever I got 
a start in life again it must be among the Yankees; 
accordingly I opened up in Boston where I hud but 
one or two oppositions to contend with; I hung out 
my sign and at the end of the first month I found I 
had made a failure ; I could not get the people to 



—139— 

come into my place ; I saw plainly that I must burst 
up or use some other plan to attract the attention of 
the people ; we were charging three dollars for a small 
picture in a morocco case which was considered very- 
high. So I concluded to reduce the price, and in or- 
der to attract attention to the price, 1 concluded to 
play a Yankee trick on the Yankees. I got up a 
large placard on each side of a frame that I fixed on 
the top of a pole ten feet high and hired a boy to 
stand at the corner of Court and Hanover Sts., the 
most popular corner in the city, and hold this pole so 
that all the passers-by could see it, (from five to seven 
in the evening when thousards passed on their way 
home from work.) The people of the country had just 
began to talk about a war with Mexico ; this subject 
was in everybody's mouth, I tbok advantage of this 
and had my placard headed in large letters: "War 
with Mexico, (then under that) or not (in small let- 
ters) J. AV. Bear will furnish beautiful daguerrotypes 
at No. 17 Hanover street, colored, true to life, in fine 
morocco cases for one dollar and a half, with a pre- 
mium to the first setter every morning." This was all 
that I had on my large placard. 

I stood a short distance ofif to see the efiTect it would 
have ; it had the desired efi?ect, for the people came 
running from every direction to see what that war 
news meant ; after reading the whole bill they would 
go away laughing, saying, *'that it was the best dodge 
of the season." 

The bait took like hot pancakes, for next morning 
early when I got to my rooms I found a score or more 
waiting ready to enlist as they said for one of my 
cheap pictures. I gave a premium of fifty cents to 
the first one that came every morning, (this hurried 
them up.) 

The result of ray experiment was : that rich and 
poor, high and low, all flocked around me, and many 
of them said that I must be a Yankee for none but a 



—140— 

Yankee could ever have got up such a good dodge as 
I had to get custom, and many of them offered to as- 
sist me with means to increase my business, and I have 
no doubt had I have stayed there that I should have 
been a rich man to-day, for the Yankees are the best 
people I have ever seen to help a stranger along in 
business who is willing to help himself, and I would 
here advise every young man who wishes to make a 
good start in the world to make that start among the 
Yankees. 

I stayed in Boston until the winter set in, and then 
concluded that the climate was too cold for me and 
that I had better go South. This was the greatest 
misfortune of my life. I had made money enough to 
furnish myself with the finest set of instruments that 
the world could produce with a fine stock of mate- 
rials for a tour to the South and a nice little pile o 
cash in my pocket. 

The first place I stopped at was Wilmington, Del., 
where I stayed a few weeks, but done but little busi- 
ness, owing, I suppose, to its being a new thing it did 
not take with the people there. I very soon saw that 
it was no go at that place, so I pulled up stakes and 
went to Annapolis, Md., where I opened up in the 
Court House with an excellent light for the business. 
I had no sooner hung out my sign than the people be- 
gan to crowd around me, and for five or six weeks I 
done a most excellent business ; I took in over five 
hundred dollars in less than two months, then when . 
all that wished pictures had been supplied I packed 
up and went to Alexandria, Va. 

I opened up in a fine room and went to the printer 
to get some bills printed, when he frankly told me, 
that he would charge me five dollars for them and that 
I would never get it back for pictures in that city, for 
said he, "daguerrotypes are played out here, there are 
three men at it here already that can't make their 
rent, and they are citizens, so it is no use for a stran- 



—141— 

ger to try it." All right, said I, "print ray bills, I 
will try it a few days and see what I can do." 

I changed ray bills from what I had intended to put 
up; in place of putting the price at two dollars I con- 
cluded to play a Yankee trick on them, so I got up 
the following bill : 

Only $1.50 for the best daguerrotype ever seen in 
Alexandria, put up in fine raorocco cases ; colored 
true to life and warranted not to fade at Wash- 
ington street, (adding below,) hoNv raany huve lost 
a father, a raother, a sister, a brother, or an innocent 
little prattling child, and have not even a shadow to 
look upon after the separation ; sorae little toy or 
trifling article are often kept for years and cherished 
as a token of remembrance. How more valuable 
would be one of the Buckeye Blacksmith's beautiful 
pictures of the loved and lost. 

Reader you could not do a better thing now, while 
your raind is on the subject, than to take a stroll to 
the Buckeye's Place, you raay have reason in future 
years to feel thankful for these gentle hints from a 
stranger : 

For think not these Portraits by the sunlight made, 

Though shades they are, will like a shadow fade ; 

No, when this lip of flesh in dust shall lie, 

And death's gray film o'erspreads the beaming eyes, 

These life like pictures mocking at decay, 

Will still be fresh and vivid as to day. 

A call is respectfully solicited. I hung out my 
sign at 12 o'clock, went to ray dinner and returned 
at 1, and found a dozen or more looking at my 
pictures. "Are you the gentleman that makes these 
pictures," said a pretty young lady to me. I told her 
I was. "Will you make me as pretty a picture as 
this (pointing to one in ray frame) for a dollar and a 
half?" "oh, yes, and prettier too, for you are a better 
looking young lady than the one that set for that 
picture," said I. This raised a great laugh among the 
crowd ; we went in, and I not only took her picture 



—142— 

but nine others, thus before night I had taken in 
fifteen dollars. I went to the printer that night and 
told him what I had done, "that I had taken fifteen 
dollars the first day and intended to take in fifteen 
hundred before I left," he said, he hoped that I 
would but doubted it. The next day I was full from 
morning till night with the fashion and beauty of the 
city, and so I continued from day to day, until finally 
the families of all three of the other operators came 
to me to get pictures, for none of these operators 
knew how to take good pictures and had quit the 
business as soon as I got under way. 

The result of my operations in Alexandria was, 
that in seventeen weeks I took in over fourteen hun- 
dred dollars in cash. But notwithstanding all my 
prosperity in my business going to Alexandria was 
the most unfortunate step of my life for the following 
reasons : 

At the time I commenced business there, they had 
the Virginia lotteries drawn in Alexandria, I was in- 
duced to try my luck in them, hoping from day to day 
to make a fortune in that way, the more I lost the 
deeper I went into it, for I was made to believe that if 
I would hang on I would certainly get a prize some- 
time. Well I had got such a mania for the lottery 
that I could scarcely eat or sleep without a ticket in 
my pocket. I kept this all a secret from my true 
friends and seemed to allow those lottery swindlers to 
have full control of me, the result of the matter was 
that when I left Alexandria and went to Frederick, 
Md., I had but about ten dollars to begin with, all the 
money that I had made in Alexandria and over five 
hundred dollars I took there with me, was gone for lot- 
ery tickets and I had no prize yet. So you will see 
that this move in going there was a very unfortunate 
one, for I commenced there to lead a life that has ru- 
ined thousands of good men, and next to rum has ru- 
ined more men and women than anything that has 



—143— 

ever cursed our country, and I would here say, my 
dear young reader if you value prosperity, if you value 
happiness and character, I warn you to let liquor and 
lotteries alone; for the two together or one alone must 
in the end prove your ruin; I know what I say, for I 
have travelled that road. 

I went to Frederick, opened up my business, but 
soon found that the old proverb is a true one, when it 
says, that a prophet is not without honor save in his 
own country ; I was borne there and the people thought 
it was impossible for me to take as good pictuies as a 
stranger that was there at that time. He professed to 
be from "New York, and the people of course thought 
that he knew more about the fine arts than a man that 
was born a poor child in their own county, when at the 
same time his pictures could not compare with mine, 
the result was, I stayed there several weeks and then 
had to go away without being able to pay all my 
board and rent. 

I packed up and went to Hagerstown and left my 
instruments in pawn for my board, until I could get 
something to do. I got to Hagerstown without a cent 
in my pocket and over twenty dollars in debt at Fred- 
erick. I felt like the old Irish woman, who said while 
drunk and being hauled to the watch house in an ash- 
cart — "I have been in many a scrape before and got 
out of all of them, but this one," so I thought that I 
had been in many a tight place in my life and had got 
out of all but this; and although I felt a little down 
hearted, felt certain that I could work my way through 
this difficulty also. 

While in Boston I had got hold of a receipt to make 
cement for mending glassware, crockery and all 
earthen wares. I concluded that I would try that 
business in Hagerstown, so I went to a druggist and 
got credit for eight cents worth of the materials for 
making the cement ; went to the hotel where I had 
put up at, got to work and prepared it for sale. I 



—144— 

had enough cement to bring me ten dollars, (it was 
nearly all profit.) I went to work to sell it and suc- 
ceeded first-rate that afternoon, and by night every- 
body found out that I was in town. During the even- 
ing many of the leading Whigs of the place called on 
me at the hotel (which was kept by Mr. Robert Fow- 
ler, who has since that become a very active politician 
in the Conservative party of the State, and is still 
living.) After conversing some time with them, I 
told them that I was considered the best daguerrotypist 
in the country, and that I had failed to do anything 
in Frederick and had to leave all my aperatus there 
in security for my board and rent, and that I had 
taken this method of raising money to pay this debt 
and get a small stock of materials to begin with, when 
I intended to start business in their town. They ask- 
ed me how much it would take to start me. I told 
them fifty dollars would get me a good stock of mate- 
rials and twenty dollars would redeem my tools ; with 
seventy dollars I could make a good start. 

Mr. Fowler, the landlord, proposed that seven of 
the party then present should advance me ten dollars 
each to start on, and take it out in pictures after I 
got under way, (for he said that I had done enough 
for the party to entitle me to a living as long as I 
lived ;) he had no sooner made the proposition than 
every man present (one or two Democrats among 
them) responded that he would be one of the seven ; 
and in a few minutes the money was raised, and be- 
fore I went to bed I had started fifty dollars to Phila- 
delphia for goods and twenty dollars for my tools, 
(well, you can bet your bottom dollar that 1 slept 
good that night.) 

The next day I got a first class room in the Court 
House, rent free, and went to work to fit it up by the 
time my tools and goods would arrive, which they did 
in due time ; in the mean time I kept on selling ce- 
ment so by the time that I got ready to work I had 



—US- 
several dollars picked up in that way. I put out the 
same handbill that I had at Alexandria and it took 
well, ail declared that my specimen pictures were the 
best they had ever seen; I got several prominent men 
to let me take their pictures to hang at the door in 
my show case before I opened up for the public, so 
that wher^fj did open up everybody admired my work 
and commenced to crowd around me by dozens at a 
time, all anxious to have their pictures taken. 

I never shall forget to my latest hour the people of 
Hagerstown, for no sooner than they found out that I 
was poor and needed a friend than they came as one 
man to my relief; from the morning that I hung out 
ray sign to the day that I left their town they never 
ceased to patronize me, but here also as well as in 
Alexandria I found a lottery office, I had not gotten 
over ray mania for tickets notwithstanding my sad ex- 
perience but a short time before, and here, too, I had 
the misfortune and weakness to spend nearly all that 
I had made ; I made up my mind to leave the South 
where lotteries were tolerated and go to Pennsylvania 
where there were none, so I packed up my kit and 
went to Chambersburg, Pa., almost penniless but 
enough left to stand a decent business. 

I opened up there, and for several weeks done a 
sraall business, so very small that I began to fear that 
I should make a failure of it at this place as I did in 
Frederick, Md. About this time the Methodists had 
a great meeting to dedicate their large new church, 
and Bishop Janes, one of their big guns, was to preach 
the dedication sermon for them ; I was not long in 
making up my mind what was best for me to do. — 
I went to hear him preach on Sunday, and when he 
was through a celebrated preacher by the name of 
Collins, from Baltimore, was to do the begging of 
money to pay for finishing the church. I immediate- 
ly bit at that bait; at the proper time Mr. Collins 
called on all that felt like giving anything towards 
*7 



—re- 
paying the debt, that were not members of the church, 
should raise up and say what amount they were will- 
ing to give; I took advantage of this and sung out, 
"I will give you ten dollars." "Your name, sir," said 
Mr. Collins, I told him, when he sung out in a loud 
voice : "the Buckeye Blacksmith gives ten dollars." 
All eyes were on me for a moment, and I felt that I 
had gained a point. 

The next morning early I went to see the Bishop, 
invited him to my rooms, took a splendid large pic- 
ture of him, made him a present of it, and also made 
one for myself tor my show table; this had the de- 
sired effect, for in less than twenty-four hours every- 
body knew what I had done and commenced to call 
and see the Bishops picture and to get a copy of it, 
and in less than ten days I sold over a hundred dollars 
worth of copies. I had raised myself in the estima- 
tion of the Methodists so high that they came in droves 
to my place and got their pictures taken, and I done 
excellent business for a number of weeks after that 
and had succeeded in saving several hundred dollars. 

I then concluded to go to Carlisle, Pa., where the 
people had the name of being very high minded and 
aristocratic, here, I thought, would be a fine field for ■ 
me. When I got there I found two men engaged in i 
the business but neither of them understood how to 
make a good picture. I went to see them and one of 
them told me that he was not a country artist as I was 
but a New York city artist that took pictures by an 
entire new and improved plan ; that his pictures could i 
not fade and therefore were more valuable than any 
others, and even dared me to open up against him. — 
I told him the people would speak of him as they 
would of Noah of old, as one that once lived, but was 
no more, as soon as I opened for he would not get 
another picture to take after I got under way. 

The other fellow came frankly to me and said that: 
he knew that he did not understand the business, andl 



—147— 

asked me to learn him so that he could make a living 
for his family. I told hira I would do so, which I 
did, without charging a cent. As soon as I got open 
for business I hung jut my sign and filled the tovvn 
with flaming hand-bills, and in three days had the 
pleasure of seeing my New York artist take the cars 
body and baggage for parts unknown, and have never 
heard of him since nor never expect to. 

1 stayed at Carlisle some four months and done a 
most unparalled business; I had sent to Vienna, in 
Austria, and got a set of the best instruments made 
that was ever imported, and was in a fair way to m.ake 
a fortune again, but the devil or something else put 
it in my head to go to the South again ; I started for 
Winchester, Va., with the finest outfit that ever cross- 
ed the Potomac in my business ; my outfit was so ex- 
tensive that I had to pay some eight dollars extra fare 
on the cars. I had also a nice roll of cash in my 
pocket. 

When I arrived in Winchester I found a young 
man engaged at the business, but as he was rich he 
only followed it for pleasure and was glad that I came 
to relieve him of the bother of taking pictures for the 
public ; he rendered me all the assistance he could in 
getting a suitable room to operate in and issued a card 
recommending me to all his friends as a first-class 
artist ; this was very valuable to me as it brought me 
at once into notice, he being one of the first families 
of the place, his father was a Senator and stood high 
among the people of Winchester, which gave a de- 
cided advantage over any place that I had been ; here 
I had no opposition, and with a fine stock of the best 
materials and the finest instruments extant I was pre- 
pared to do a fine business. 

I opened my business here with the fairest prospects 
that I had ever had. The people had never had a 
picture taken for less than three dollars, so when I 
hung out my sign at one dollar and a half everybody 



—148- 

came to see me; in this place I reserved every Friday 
afternoon for colored people, this seemed to please 
both white and colored ; I also published that slaves 
would be taken for fifty cents less than others, this 
made me very popular with them, they came in droves 
to see rae on their day, the white people all agreed 
that my plan was a good one, so much so that the 
owners of them willingly gave them time to get their 
pictures taken, and many of them came with them to 
see that they got good ones taken. I had lots of fun 
with them, no odds how black they were I made their 
pictures light, this would please them, they would say 
"bless de Lord it looks just like dis chile," and when 
a black man and a yellow girl would set together I 
would throw the largest amount of light on the man 
so as t) make them both as light as possible, this took 
with them like hot pancakes, and pleased iheir own- 
ers also. 

I very soon became very popular, not only with 
th3 white ladies and gentlemen, but with the colored 
ones too ; the result of my popularity with the people 
here, was, that I had a successful run of business from 
early in the Fall of '47 to the Spring of '48. I took 
over fifteen hundred pictures there, the lowest at a 
dollar, the highest at five dollars. But lo! and be- 
hold, right opposite my place of business was a lottery 
office and, here, as before, the mania took hold of me, 
and every dollar that I made as well as what I had 
taken there with me was spent in that way, and before 
I left there I was compelled to sell one of my instru- 
ments to get away. 

I now made up my mind fully that I would forever 
leave the South to return no more, but I stopped at 
Charleston (a place that has since been made memor- 
able in this country as the place w^here the first martyr 
to liberty was hung.) for a few days, just long enough 
to make a raise to take me to Pennsylvania. I done 
an excellent business for a week or two, and then pack- 



— ne- 
ed up and went to that State, fully intending never to 
return. I arrived there safe and sound just about the 
time the Presidential question began to be talked of, 
but had not made up my mind what I should do on 
that question. I had not taken any interest in politics 
since the defeat of Mr. Clay, and thought that 1 never 
would, but as soon as the Whigs at their National Con- 
vention of that year had nominated Gen. Taylor as 
their candidate for President, I saw very plainly that 
the South had gained their point in placing a strong 
pro slavery man on the Whig ticket against Gen. Cass 
one of the best men that the Democratic party ever 
had placed before the people. I had known Gen. Cass 
well and had known him to be an honest man, which 
was more than I could say for the most of them. I 
knew very well that the South would not trust Cass, 
although he was a much superior man to Taylor. Yet 
he was a man that they could not use, and they knew 
it, hence their lukewarm support of him. Although I 
knew him to be the best man for the place, party lines 
were so tightly drawn that I could not vote for him. 

I took but little interest in the election, further than 
to speak three or four weeks around through three or 
four counties of that State. I saw from the first that 
Cass was beat, Taylor's war record w*as carrying him 
flying over the Presidential race course, like a tornado, 
and that "nothing but a miracle could stop him. I 
told the Democrats so, but they were foolhardy enough 
to think up to the day of election that they would carry 
their point, and I could not pursuade them that the 
South would not allow him to be President. Well the 
election came off, and the result was just as I had told 
them, Taylor and Filmore were triumphantly elected. 
I had told some of my friends that men were like water, 
it would seek its level, so would men. Cass had not 
equals enough he was too distinguished a man, the same 
as Mr. Clay was. Polk and Taylor were ordinary men, 
and a very large majority of the voters of this country 



—ISO- 
being but ordinary men, sought their level by voting 
for them in place of Mr. Clay and Gen. Cass, hence 
their defeat. 

Gen. Taylor took his seat with as little pomp and 
show, as any other President had done; and I have no 
doubt, but had he lived, that he would have made a 
pretty fair President; but before he had been eighteen 
months in office, he died, and Mr. Filmore took his 
place, then came the tug of war. Mr. Filmore very 
soon became the pliant tool of the slave power, and 
through him, as the best compromise that Mr. Clay 
(who was in the Senate at that time) could get, we got 
the fugitive slave law. That law made every white 
man in the North a negro-catcher for the South, for if 
one of their slaves ran away and got into one of the 
Northern States, and his master followed him and 
called on you to assist him to catch his slave, that law 
compelled you to help catch him ; if you refused to 
assist him and was worth the price of the negro, you 
would be compelled to pay for him. To this state of 
things I most positively demurred, and this law I re- 
fused to obey. Look at the unfairness of the thing. — 
Negroes in the South were by law goods and chattels, 
the same as horses and oxen are in the North — well 
let us see hew this law worked ; if my horse or yours 
ran away from us in the South, there was no law to 
compel them to help us catch him, neither could we 
make them pay for him if he got away from us ; but 
if one of their black cattle got away from them, we 
must assist in catching or pay for him. Look at it. 
Northern Democrat, and tell me, did you ever support 
such a measure as that ? I tell you you did when you 
supported Mr. Pierce in 1852. 

After the campaign of '48 was over I concluded to 
go to work again at my business, but by this time every 
little town in the country had a daguerrotype saloon 
in it and the large places had two or more men running 
opposition in them. Every fellow who could raise a 



—151— 

few dollars would get up a small outfit, raobtly almost 
worthless, and put out into some country town and 
stick up his cards and pretend he knew more about 
the business than any man living, when at the same 
time all that he knew and his tools in the bargain 
were not worth ten dollars. Almost every lovvn I 
went to I found one or two and sometimes more of 
these fellows blowing their own trumpets, and as soon 
as I would open up and commence business they would 
generally put the price of their pictures down to about 
half what I charged iii order to burst me up, but I gen- 
erally made them leave, and that very soon after 1 got 
under way. 

The greatest difficulty I had to encounter with these 
men, was the want of a suitable room with the right 
kind of light to make good pictures with, they being 
there before me, would generally get the best places 
to be had, and I would have to take an inferior place 
to compete with them, but having more knowledge of 
the business than they had, and the best instruments 
in the country, I could always put them to flight. 

I saw very plainly, that there was something want- 
ing. I knew what kind of light I required to do good 
work with, and this light I could not get in country 
towns. There being a little Yankee in me, I set to 
work to build me a house adapted exactly to the busi- 
ness, with a large, splendid sky-light, made in such a 
manner, that I could, by taking off a few screws, take 
it all apart in small ompartraents and load it on a 
car or big wagon and move it to any place I might 
wish to, where, with the aid of two men, in three hours 
I could put it up, ready for work. It was three times 
as large as those saloons which were built on wheels 
years after that, and far superior ; those saloons were 
too small and were never adapted to the business, con- 
sequently I never had one. 

As soon as I got my house done I had no more 
trouble with opposition. My sky-light made such fine 



—152- 

even shades over the face, everybody said they were 
just the thing they wanted, and everybody admired my 
enterprise in getting up such a novel plan of doing 
good work, and they fully rewarded me for my outlay 
and skill. I would go into a town, get a vacant lot 
whereever I could, get two or three men to help me, 
and have my house all ready for business before any 
person knew what whs going on. The first thing they 
would know about my being there would be when they 
read my bill, which I would have thrown into every 
house as well as all over the country around. I put 
up my bills thus : 

The great crowd you see moving from morning till twilight 
Are enquiring the way to the Buckeye^s great sky-light, 
To have a daguerrotype view of their faces 
Put up for a dollar, in the very best cases. 

A call is respectfully solicited — saloon on lot 

&c. 



This saloon as I called it was a decided success, for 
in it I did the best work I had ever done, and where- 
ever I went, I did a very nice business. I continued 
to travel about through Pennsylvania, from town to 
town, from the time of Taylors election until the Spring 
of 1852, when another political campaign was about 
to open, but as yet nobody knew who were to be the 
candidates. 

The result of the two National Conventions was that 
the Whigs nominated General Scott and the other side 
nominated General Pierce of New Hampshire. By 
this time the people had become very tired of the agi- 
tation of the question of slavery, and ready to vote for 
any party that would pledge itself to keep down the 
agitation of this vexed question. The Democrats took 
advantage of this, and placed iu their platform at Bal- 
timore, the day that they nominated Mr. Pierce, a 
plank, declaring that they would forever after discoun- 
tenance the opening up of that question ; and their 
speakers and their press during the campaign that fol- 



-153— 

lowed pledged themselves, that if the people would 
elect Mr. Pierce, that question would be forever settled. 
Through these pledges and the weakness and vanity of 
General Scott, he having no strength with the people, 
they were enabled to elect Mr. Pierce by a tremendous 
majority. 

On the 4th of March 1853, Mr. Pierce in his inau- 
gural address, in the presence of the congregated thou- 
sands of upturned faces, declared that during his term 
of office the opening of the slave question would not 
be tolerated. This his friends received with loud ap- 
plause and the country seemed to be satisfied with it ; 
but lo and behold, Mr. Pierce had scarcely got warm 
in his seat before he and his party leaders began a 
system of agitation tenfold worse then ever by their 
plan to force Kansas into the Union as a slave Rtate, 
against the will of a large majority of the bona-fide 
citizens of that territory. This they attempted to do 
by filling the territory with armed border ruffians, to 
stuflT the ballot boxes to suit themselves and in order 
to assist them in this plan, Mr. Pierce appointed a Mr. 
Keeder of Pennsylvania, Governor of Kansas, hoping 
as he was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, that he would 
declare the fraudulent election that had just taken 
place, to be a legal one, but notwithstanding Keeder's 
powerful democratic proclivities, the dose was too bit- 
ter for him to swallow, and after investigating the 
whole matter, he wrote back and declared the thing 
an outrageous fraud. The result was, that he was im- 
mediately recalled, for he had refused to do the dirty 
work for which they had sent him there. 

The next man they tried was John W. Geary, also 
of Pennsylvania, supposing that they would find a 
pliant tool in him. Well, Geary went out there and 
in six weeks he returned, also declaring the whole 
thing a fraud, so he could not swallow the Southern 
pill. They then boxed the compass about for awhile 
to find a man to suit them, and at last picked up ex- 



Gov. fihannon of Ohio ; he had heretofore always been 
willing to do any dirty work that the democracy 
wished him to do, so they sent Shannon out there ; but 
willing tool as he had always been for them, he also 
came back disgusted with Kansas and the whole pro- 
ceedings of the election. 

They now saw very plainly that there was no use in 
trying to get a Northern man for that job, so they con- 
cluded to try a Southern man. Although they pre- 
ferred a Northern man for the job, they could then go 
before the people of the country and declare that the 
election was a fair one and had been so decided by a 
Northern man. This they preferred but they found it 
impossible to get one to suit them ; they therefore sent 
all the way down to Mississippi and got one of the 
large slave holders of that State, Mr. Robert J. Walk- 
er, who was a strong Democrat, supposing as a matter 
of course, that he would bite at the bait. But slave 
holder and Democrat as he was, he too utterly refused 
to enter into such a damnable plot as that was, and he 
as well as his secretary, also a Southern slave holder, 
came back perfectly disgusted, not only with the Kan- 
sas question but the Democratic party also. 

My dear reader you will thus see how the Demo- 
cratic party have kept their pledges in former years, 
when the party was comparatively pure, and if they 
failed to keep them then, in the name of common sense, 
what can you expect of them now, when their leaders 
are composed of the worst men of the nation. I would 
here state with all due respect to many honest Demo- 
crats, for they have honest men among them, that I 
have never known ihem as a party, to keep a pledge 
they ever made, except to protect the whisky rings of 
the country ; this they have always done to the letter, 
for the simple reason, that much of their success in 
politics depended upon the influence that whisky 
brought to bear in their favor, for without whisky you 
could not carry ou a Democratic campaign. 



I 



—155— 

I was told once, by one of their prominent men that 
he could make more votes in his county with a barrel 
of whisky than I could make with the ten command- 
ments, when I told him the Democrats were like the 
man who sent his child to the grocery to get sixpence 
worth of bread and six pence worth of whisky, the 
child returned and said they had no six pence loaves 
of bread, nothing less than eight cent loaves, when 
the father replied, damn the bread we can do without 
it, go back and get the whole shilling in whisky ; there- 
fore I couclude you can do better with whisky in 
your party than you could with the bible or bread 
either. 

But my dear reader the question very nutu rally 
arises, why did the South have such a strong desire to 
extend slavery into the free territory, I will try and ex- 
plain it to you : there were four millions of slaves in 
the South that had no vf ice, part or lot in the admin- 
istration of the affairs of the Government, they were 
only goods and chatties, but at the same time they were 
counted in the ratio of representation, at the ratio of 
five slaves to three free citizens ; this gave them about 
two million four hundred souls to be counted in the 
representation. At that time every ninety six thou- 
sand souls entitled a State to a member in Congress, 
counting the two million four hundred thousand slaves, 
at ninety six thousand to the member, they had twenty 
seven members, thus representing their property, in the 
place of free white citizens, and also twenty seven elec- 
tors for President and Vice President; what right I 
ask you had they to count a negro if he was common 
property, in their ratio of representation, unless they 
allowed us to count our property also. To show you 
how this system worked, and the advantage it gave the 
South over the North let me call your attention to a 
few facts. Vermont with a free population of more 
than nine thousand more than Sovith Carolina, had 
but three members of Congress, while South Caroliua 



•—156— 

by counting three out of every five of her slaves had 
six members, thus making one free citizen of that State 
equal on the floor of Congress to two free citizens of 
Vermont ; then take New Hampshire, if you please, 
she had a free white population of over thirty one 
thousand more than South Carolina, yet she had but 
three members in Congress, thus making one South 
Carolinian more than equal to two white citizens of 
New Hampshire. Then take Rhode Island with an 
equal population of South Carolina, she has but two 
members, thus making one South Carolinian equal to 
three Rhode Islanders, and so it wojked throughout 
the entire South, but in less proportion in some of the 
States than it did in South Carolina, Georgia and 
Mississippi. 

It will thus be seen the great advantage slavery 
gave them over the free States. You will very readily 
perceive that with the twenty seven members represen- 
ting their slaves added to those they were entitled to, 
they only needed a few votes from the North as well 
as a few electoral votes to elect a President of their 
choice or carry any point they wished. In this way 
they held the balance of power on almost every im- 
portant question that came before the people. It was 
this balance of power which elected Mr. Van Buren ; 
it was this balance of power which repealed the tariff 
of 1842 ; it was this power which elected Mr. Polk ; 
it was this power which gave us the fugitive slave law; 
it was this power which repealed the Missouri Compro- 
mise ; it was this power which elected Mr. Pierce and 
also Buchanan ; it was this power which prevented a 
system of free education in the Southern States, which 
left a large majority of the poor whites in ignorance 
and the servile tools ol the slave drivers ; it was this 
power which filled the poor houses of the South with 
hoards of poor, ignorant white females, who had fallen 
a prey to the slave driver and his sons, and were left 
to eudure their own shame in the county poor house, 



—157— 

until some poor, ignorant white tool of their destroyer 
could be hoodwinked into marrying them. 

Is it any wonder my dear reader that the great 
ruler of the Universe in the fullness of time took this 
matter in hand to destroy the fountainhead of all these 
monstrous evils as well as the Democratic party, which 
had been the instrument in the hands of the devil to 
produce them, it is God that ought to have the glory 
and not man for their destruction. 

I had taken but little interest in the election of 52, 
other than to make a few speeches through the county 
where I was working, for I saw very plainly that Scott 
was defeated three months before the election, and 
that all efforts to create any feeling in his behalf was 
labor in vain, hence I spent but little money or time 
in that direction. I always thought it was folly to 
spend money or labor in a hopeless cause. So I con- 
tinued on at my business going from town to town un- 
til the beginning of the year 1854, when the great 
Knownothing party began to attract considerable at- 
tention throughout the country. I began to look at 
the question in all its bearings, and finally made up 
my mind that through that party we might possibly 
be able to break down the corrupt Democracy, for 
about this time they had become about as corrupt as 
they well could be. 1 therefore concluded that it was 
every mans duty who loved his country to assist in 
putting down this monstrous evil, I therefore made up 
my mind to unite my destinies with them. 

Here was the Democratic party in power, had gotten 
that power through three of the most powerful influences 
in the country, viz: slavery, whisky and the foreign vote, 
which they had enlisted in their favor through the 
heads of one of the powerful churches of this country. 
Here I found a large mass of foreign voters from one 
end of the country to the other, all as one man throw- 
ing their entire vote to one party ; this I considered a 
very dangerous thing, I feared that at no distant day 



—158— 

this influence might and would endanger the liberty 
of the people of this country. I found the churches 
composed of the native born citizens of the country 
divided in politics the same as those who where not 
members of the church, but when I found a church of 
foreigners, I found them solid for the Democracy. This 
I thought, and think so yet, meant something, and 
would some day be used to our scrrow, therefore I 
felt that there ought to be a stop put to it, hence I 
united with the Knownothings with all my heart. 

As soon as the campaign opened I was appointed 
one of the officers for the eastern part of the State 
with full power to establish lodges through any dis- 
trict ; I had saved some money at my business and 
concluded that as it was the Whigs that had gave it 
to me for my work that I would spend every dollar 
that I had, for the Knownothings who where mostly 
Whigs to help them to break up the Democratic for- 
eign whiskey and slavery party. I therefore sent to 
Pittsburg where the head officer of the State lived and 
bought with my own money two hundred dollars 
worth of blank charters, and quit all business. I com- 
menced to travel, establishing lodges from night to 
night, and day to day, paying my own expenses, 
never asking a cent for the charter of a lodge, for fear 
that the people might think it was only a raoneymak- 
ing scheme of mine, although I had paid two dollars for 
every charter that I had. My plan was to go to a 
place, feel around and find a friend or two, send them 
among their friends, appoint a place to meet that af- 
ternoon or night, under some big tree in the woods or 
some cornfield or old out house, or any other place 
where we could meet secretly and th re I would ini- 
tiate them into the order ; they very soon began to 
write or come for me to visit all parts of the country, 
which kept me going constantly for near three months. 

I had many pleasing incidents in that campaign; 
on one occasion a Democratic Oongresatnan sent four 



—169— 

of his Democratic friends to different schoolhouses to 
watch if any Democrats met with us. At the same time 
all four of these men belonged to our lodge, and in 
place of going to the country and schoolhouses to 
watch Democrats, came into the lodge and told all 
about it, and had a hearty laugh over it ; on an other 
occasion they sent a fellow to watch us when he got 
into a pig pen among some pigs. The owner heard a 
noise among his pigs and supposing some persons were 
stealing some of them he took down his shot gun and 
fired at the fellow, peppering his whole hips with fine 
shot, which gave the doctor a pretfey good job picking 
them out. 

Finally the election came off, I was the last one to 
vote, when the polls had closed, the Democratic Con- 
gressman alluded to above, took up a collection among 
the Democrats to pay the Telegraph Co. for the use of 
the wires that evening for political news, when I stepped 
up and offered to pay a part of it but he declined 
to take it from a Knownothing, at the same time say- 
ing that although I was the great Mogul of the party, 
that I had got but two of their raen from them, and 
that the Democrats would still have forty seven ma- 
jority in the Borough. I told him that I had no 
doubt that he spoke what he thought, but I would 
speak what I knew, we would beat them twenty for 
the whole ticket except Congressman, and would beat 
them eighteen for that. This raised a great laugh 
among the unterrified, they said I had gone crazy and 
ought to be locked up for safe keeping. Very well 
gentlemen, said I, wait a few minutes till the tickets 
are counted and you will see that I know what I am 
talking about. We continued to crack a few jokes 
for awhile until at last the vote for Governor and 
Congress was handed out of the window to us, when 
lo and behold we had beaten them just as I told them 
we would, and in five minutes there was not a Demo- 
crat to be found on the ground. I hunted up the 



—160— 

Congressman and found him in his office without a 
light, asked him how the election was going, for you 
have the telegraph said I, when he replied, "its all 
gone to h — 1 and you can go there too if you choose.'* 
I went away laughing at the top of my voice. Thus 
ended the success of the great Knownothing party. 

The Knownothing party was a short lived party, 
owing to the fact that it proscribed the children of 
foreigners and also the children of American Catho- 
lics ; had they have left that out of their creed they 
might have built up a party that would have ruled 
this country for many years to come ; another cause 
of its downfall was that the great men of the country 
who were capable of being leaders never took hold of 
it, they stood aloof and looked on to see what effect 
it would have but took no part in it, and thus it died 
out for the want of great men to lead it ; the principle 
was a good one, that Americans should rule America, 
this was the doctrine of the Father of Our Country 
(George Washington) when he said, *'put none but 
Americans on guard," which doctrine I endorsed then 
and do to this day, but as it is dead and buried I will 
let it rest in peace. 

After the election was over I went to work again, 
but was very much broken down in health by my 
constant exposure to the night air, for I had been for 
near three months exposed all hours of the night in 
the open air until I was nearly prostrated ; the result 
was, that I was taken down with the typhoid fever, 
forty miles from home, and lay there for five months 
before I could be taken home, and this sickness added 
to what I had just spent in politics took every dollar 
that I had on earth ; it left me penniless without any 
means to begin my business or without bread to eat, 
or a home to put my head into. I had to sell nearly 
all my tools to sustain myself until I got able to work 
which was two months after I was able to be taken 
home. My services were not needed then in politics 



—161— 

and I found but few friends that were willing to assist 
me. Thus I have found it with politicians, you*are 
everything when they want to use you, but after they 
have used you and got out of you ail they want, you 
can go to the devil for all they care. There are some 
exceptions to this rule, however, they are not all of 
that stripe but unfortunately a large majority of poli- 
ticians soon forget and desert their best friends. 

Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, General Harrison 
and Mr. Lincoln were among those that are dead that 
never forgot or deserted a friend, and one of the main 
reasons why General Jackson was so popular was, he 
was never known to desert a man who was his friend. 
These men are all dead but their deeds of kindness 
still live, and will continue to live long after you and 
I, dear reader, are forgotten. The best living man I 
ever knew in my fifty years experience in politics to 
remember a friend or services rendered, is Simon Cam- 
eron of Pennsylvania. I have watched him closely 
for more than forty years, and can truly say, that I 
never knew him in one single instance to go back on 
any man that ever rendered him any service. And 
this accounts for his great popularity with the people 
of that State. I hope all young politicians will profit' 
by his example. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

CAMPAIGN OF 1856 — STARTED OUT FOR FILMORE, BUT 

AFTER FIRST SPEECH WENT FOR FREMONT — 

A FRIEND IN NEED — PLOTTING OF 

THE SOUTH. 

DURING the Summer of 1855, after I had partly 
recovered from my long attack of sickness, I went 
to Philadelphia where I found a friend to loan me 
money enough to start my business in a small way, 
but by this time the city was full of operators, and 
my means being so limited that I could not do much. 
I was not able to make much of a show, and that was 
every thing in a city, it made no difference how I 
made my pictures, I had no show to draw the people 
into my place ; therefore I made but poor headway 
during that Summer and the following Winter, only 
doing enough to keep soul and body together. But I 
had confidence that I should get out of my difficulty 
after a while, my organ of hope was very large, and 
always has been, or I should have been dead long ago. 
Early in the Spring of 1856 there began to be con- 
siderable talk about the Presidential question, and 
there was much speculation about who the candidates 
would be. The Whig party had been swallowed up 



—163— 

in the Knownothing party, and Mr. Filmore seemed 
to be the choice of the American party and was finally 
chosen their standard bearer, and Mr. Buchanan was 
chosen by the Democrats ; thus matters stood for a 
while, but there existed a powerful feeling throughout 
the country in opposition to the extension of t^lavery 
into the free territory of the country. The good men 
of all parties were uniting in opposition to it, and it 
was plain to be seen, that the men who composed this 
opposition meant business, and would make themselves 
felt, and that very soon, in a way that would not be 
very palitable to the Democratic party. These men 
were opposed to Mr, Filmore, owing to his affiliating 
too much with the South, and were determined to run 
a ticket of their own. They claimed that Filmore 
was the nominee of the South, and if elected would 
be as he had been before, their pliant tool. They call- 
ed a National Convention to meet in Philadelphia in 
July. Accordingly when the Convention met it was 
one of the largest and most respectable one that ever 
convened in this nation, and almost by a unanimous 
vote nominated John C. Fremont for President and 
presented him to the people as an opponent to the ex- 
tension of slavery. 

Mr. Fremont in his letter of acceptance of the nomi- 
nation, came out boldly in favor of free soil for free 
men, and in opposition to the extension of slavery, 
thus we had three candidates before the people. Liv- 
ing as I was in Philadelphia, where Filmore had all 
the strength that he had in the State, and where Fre- 
mont had his least strength, I made up my mind not- 
withstanding Filmore was not my choice and Fremont 
was, that it was my duty to go for Filmore, as the 
available man to beat Buchanan, not knowing that 
Filmore had no strength out of Philadelphia. I had 
been made to believe by the Filmore organ, and the 
Democratic papers of Philadelphia, that he was carry- 
ing everything before him outside of the city. They 



—164— 

were giving tlie most glowing accounts of the outpour- 
ings of the people in his favor ; to read these papers 
you would have thought that Fremont was not running 
at all. I therefore made up my mind to go for Fil- 
more with my whole heart, as the only hope of beat- 
ing Buchanan, and commenced to speak at meetings 
about the city in his favor. 

About two months before the election the chairman 
of the Filmore State Central Committee sent for me 
to call at his office to see him on business connected 
with politics. When I called on him he told me that 
he was authorized to send me through the Western 
counties as a speaker ; and that he would pay me a 
hundred dollars a month and all expenses for my la- 
bor ; he said that the West was in one blaze of en- 
thusiasm for Filmore, and that the people wanted me 
out there ; and if I would consent to go on a certain 
day, he would send large bills through that country 
announcing my meetings for me. As I was doing but 
little business I consented to go, and the next morn- 
ing it was announced in the city papers that the Buck- 
eye Blacksmith was to stump the State for Filmore. 
Almost every person I met congratulated me, and 
wished me success.. 

The day arrived for me to start, and I called on 
the chairman for the money and letters of introduc- 
tion to the different committees. He gave me a check 
on the Northern Liberty Bank for a months salary, 
and a ticket to Pittsburg, my first stopping place, also 
a letter to the chairman of the committee there, say- 
ing that he should take charge of me while in that 
city, and forward me to my next appointment. I went 
to the bank with my check and presented it to the 
paying teller, who told me there was no funds there 
to cash it with. This rather surprised me ; I walked 
to the door and just as I got there I met the chairman 
of the Democratic State Central Commiteee going in. 
I stopped at the door for a moment considering whether 



to take tte clieck back or go home first. The ctair- 
maa stood at the bank counter and then passed out ; 
as soon as he had gone this same teller came around 
the counter and tapped me on the shoulder and said 
he could cash my check now, when I turned and went 
back to the counter and received my money. 

I now began to fear that all was not right, and that 
Filmore was running in the interest of the Democratic 
party, but I said nothing about my fears to any one, 
for fear that I was mistaken. I was determined if it 
was Democratic money that I had got, it never should 
be used to their advantage ; so at twelve o'clock that 
night I packed my kit and started for Pittsburg, with 
my miud fully made up concerning the course that I 
intended to pursue, viz : that if the great ado about 
Filmore was only a hoax I would use their money 
against them for the Fremont party. 

Well, the next morning a number of the gentlemen 
passengers recognized me and began to plague me 
about Filmore, offering to bet me a hundred dollars 
that I could not find fifty Filmore men West of the 
Alleghany Mountains, this, I confess, rather staggered 
me for they seemed to be candid men and meant 
what they said, and the nearer we got to Pittsburg 
the more I became the butt of ridicule. I finally ar- 
rived there, and very soon found my committee man 
who received me very cordially and sent me to one of 
the best hotels in the city, which I soon fouud to be 
the Democratic head-quarters; the Democracy flocked 
around me and treated me with great respect, which 
was not very pleasing to me but I said nothing and 
thought a great deal. 

In the evening the committee man called for me 
according to promise and gallanted me to the meeting 
which was held in Liberty Hall, a small hall by that 
name, which, if well filled, would not hold more than 
five hundred persons; I found about two hundred 
noisy men and boys there all clamoring for the Buck- 



—166— 

eye. I was introduced to the meeting by my commit- 
tee man and made but a short speech, being fully 
satisfied the Filmore movement was a failure at that 
place. 

After I had returned to the hotel I was called on by 
several gentlemen who had once known me, when one 
of them said : "Bear what are you doing ; have you 
forsaken all your old friends and your life long prin- 
ciples and turned over to the Democratic party that 
you have always opposed, or what do you mean by 
coming out here making Filmore speeches, when there 
are not ten Filmore men in the county that are resi- 
dents, what few there are here, belong down South, 
and are only here doing business ; further, the very 
man or men that have had you in charge since you 
came here, and nearly all that heard you speak to 
night are Democrats and you are here in one of the 
worst Democratic holes in the city. We do most posi- 
tively assure you that there is no Filmore party in 
this part of the State." 

I told them all about the manner in which I had 
been started out, and how I had got the moiaey and 
pass to come on ; and also what I intended to do with 
the money that I had. I told them that I had been 
deceived into the belief that there was no Fremont 
^arty in the State, and that 1 had thought that Fil- 
more was our only hope to beat Buchanan with, but 
I was now satisfied that it was all a Democratic dodge 
to weaken Fremont, and that I should change my 
whole course hereafter, that I should fill the appoint- 
ments that were made for me, but the Democrats 
would make little by the operation. This pleased 
them very much and they left wufh a better opinion 
of me than they had when they first called on me. 

The next morning when I called for my bill, pre- 
paratory to leaving the city, I was told that it was 
paid and a ticket had been left for me to take me to 
Kittaning, where I was to speak that night. I asked 



—167— 

who the kind friend was that paid my bill and left the 
ticket, when the clerk said it was a friend of the cause ; 
here you perceive there was some more Democratic 
money used. I took the cars and in due time arrived 
at Kittaning and as soon as I got out of the cars I be- 
gan to look around for the notices of my meeting, but 
saw no bills ; I asked several persons present if there 
was to be a Filmore meeting there to night, a Filmore 
meeting said one of them, what kind of a meeting 
would that be, there aint a Filmore man in the county. 
Yes there is said another, there is a fellow down the 
country about ten miles from here that swears he will 
vote for him ; oh well said the other he will be allright 
before the election. Then there is no Filmore hotel 
where I can stop at, said I; no said the man, but that 
omnibus, pointing to one, will take you to a good ho- 
tel, but I hardly think you will find many Filirfore 
men there. 

I went to the hotel, registerd my name and asked 
tliQ landlord if he had heard of any meeting that was 
to come ofTth^re that night, he said not, when a ser- 
vant man spoke up and said that some bills had come 
there a few days before to the landlords brother, for a 
Filmore meeting, and they where laying in the closet 
then, and went and got them, when all present had a 
hearty laugh over them. The landlord said, his brother 
was a halfway Filmore man, but had gone to New 
York, so there was no Filmore party in town at this 
time. About this time the high sheriff of the county 
came in and the landlord introduced me as a Filmore 
speaker, who had come there to make a speech and 
that the bills had not been posted. That dont make 
any difference, said the sheriff, everybody is here to- 
day attending the county fair, and we can get up a 
meeting without any trouble. I am a Democrat, but 
you shall have a meeting to-night, and a big one at 
that, we all want to hear the Buckeye Blacksmith, the 
man that we have read so much abgut. 



—168— 

A fter dinner the sheriff took me all around town 
and introduced me to all the big bugs of the county, 
telling them that I would speak at the courthouse that 
night, but I soon found that he was introducing me 
generally to Democrats. The Chairman of the Re- 
publican County Committee had a store opposite the 
hotel, where all the principal men of the party were 
collected looking daggers at me. I finally asked the 
sheriff to go over with me and introduce me to them, 
which he did ; they treated me very kindly and asked 
me how many Filmore votes I expected to make in 
their county. I told them that I expected to convert 
all of them to my doctrine before I left town. This 
caused considerable merriment among them. The 
sheriff then took me out to the Fair ground where I 
had a nice time with the ladies, and returned to town 
with the sheriff in time for tea, well pleased with that 
days adventure. 

At the hour of meeting, my friend, the sheriff, ep- 
corted me to the Court House which I found packed 
to overflowing with men ; every available spot had a 
man in it so that I could hardly get a place to stand 
and speak ; there was no chairman appointed, the 
sheriff telling me to go ahead and make my speech 
which I did ; I commenced by a violent attack on 
Buchanan, I raked up everything he had ever done, 
and gave him the best drubbing I could ; this the 
Democrats only smiled at, supposing, of course, that I 
would give it to Fremont worse after I had gotten 
through with Buchanan. I spoke a few things in 
favor of Filmore, spoke of him as having been a good 
and true Whig that we old Whigs had delighted to 
honor, &c., when all at once I stopped short in my 
speech and said, but, gentlemen, there is another 
fellow running, what is this they call him I have for- 
gotten his name, when a dozen voices sung out Fre- 
mont, ah, yes, said I, Fremont is his name, well I 
don't know much about that fellow, all that I do know 



—169— 

is what the Democratic papers says about him, (I 
must confess that it is not very good authority.) They 
say that in 1846 while he was in charge of the Com- 
missary department in Mexico or some other place, 
that he stole eighty thousand dollars worth of Govern- 
ment cattle, well, this I believe for the strongest rea- 
sons that a man could have that was not an eye wit- 
ness to the fact, he was a Democrat then, and was 
elected to the United States Senate by them about 
that time as such, and as stealing had ever been the 
order of that party, I had no doubt but that he thought 
it was his duty to follow in the footsteps of his party. 

But, gentlemen, I am free to say that I have never 
heard of anything wrong against that man since he 
left the Democrats and got into decent company ; this 
fixed matters, all the leading Democrats raised up and 
said they had heard enough of the Buckeye, and 
made for the door amid the shouts of the Republicans 
who gathered around congratulating me on my suc- 
cess in putting down the Democracy that night ; when 
order was restored I finished my speech to the entire 
satisfaction of all the friends of Fremont and some of 
the Democrats. 

After I was done speaking and returned to the 
hotel, the Chairman of the Fremont Committee with 
many of the leaders of the party of that county called 
on me and complimented me very highly for the 
manner in which I had turned the tables on the Demo- 
crats who had been the means of sending me out to 
speak for Filmore, for I had told in my speech all 
about the way that I started out, and where the money 
had come from to send me. The next morning the 
Fremont men would not allow me to go in the stage 
but sent me to Brady's Bend in a carriage in charge 
of a committee, and when we got to Brady's Bend the 
Democrats, what few there were in the place, had 
posted the bills and had made arrangements for me to 

speak at a tavern of theirs, but my committee took me 

*8 



—170— 

to a Fremont house and went and saw all the leading 
men about the mills and works of the place, and told 
them all about my plan of speaking, and by night 
they had got up a large meeting at the hotel where I 
was staying, so when night came everybody was there 
except a few leading Democrats who were at the other 
tavern; I therefore told them that I would speak where 
the crowd was and therefore did speak at the hotel 
where I had put up. 

The next day I went over to another town where 
I was to speak and here also I found ray bills up for 
a meeting, but at this town the Democrats had been 
posted by some of their friends, who had been to the 
fair at Kittaning ; so they stood aloof and paid but 
little attention to me, but the Fremont men made up 
in attention, what the other side neglected to do. 
Here we had a day-meeting and a pretty stormy one it 
was, for the Democrats undertook to use their old and 
only arguments, that is, when they can't answer your 
questions, to kick up a fuss. This they undertook at 
this place, but got the worst of it by getting two or 
three of their men whipped. 

From this place I took a stage for Clarion the 
county seat of Clarion county, where I was told in 
Philadelphia they had fourteen hundred enrolled 
names for Filmore ; I had also been told that they 
had eight hundred enrolled names in Armstrong 
county, where I had just left, but I had failed to find 
one man, so I supposed it would be in Clarion, but I 
was mistaken, for on my arrival there I was met by 
a delegation of real bonafide Filmore men ; it is true, 
it was not a very large delegation, but what it lacked 
in numbers it made up in zeal, it was composed of 
three Journeymen painters from Philadelphia who 
were up there painting a large church. They received 
me very cordially and iutroJaced me to most of the 
leading men of both parties of the place. 

The Fremont men were pretty shy and said but 



—171— 

little to rae, but the Democrats seemed to delight in 
talking to me ; I said but little on politics, talking 
mostly about county affairs, crops &y. I had invited 
all that I talked with to come to my meeting that 
night and hear what I had to say, so that when the 
hour arrived for our meeting, I found the courthouse 
full. It was a Democratic county and as a matter of 
course there was a majority of my meeting of that 
stripe; they organized with one of my Philadelphia 
painters as chairman and another as secretary. When 
I was introduced, I said, gentlemen I am a^very fear- 
less speaker, I generally speak my ow^n sentiments 
without fear, I generally take the responsibilty on my- 
self for what I say, and I never allow any man to in- 
terrupt me while I am speaking ; I hope you will all 
listen to me until I am done then I will answer any 
question that you may ask me. 

I took about the same course that I had taken in 
Kittaning, pitched into Buchanan, spoke well of Fil- 
more and then took up Fremont as I had done before. 
I told all about my start from Philadelphia and said, 
that every dollar that I had to electioneer for Mr. Fil- 
more with, had been furnished by the Democratic 
party, and that the whole Filmore movement was a 
Democratic dodge to weaken Mr. Fremont ; I told of 
the fourteen hundred enrolled Filmore men that wer3 
claimed for that county and showed the Philadelphia 
papers as proof, which caused great merriment among 
the crowd ; I spoke for two hours, and when I closed 
I was taken in charge by the Fremont men and seen 
but little of the Filmore party in that place. 

I was to speak in six places in that county that 
week. So the Fremont men sent a man to all these 
places to post their friends about me, so as to get up 
good meetings and they sent a good speaker along to 
help me. I had a very lively time that week among 
the unterrified, got into several fusses with them, but 
always came off victorious. After speaking a week ia 



—172- 

the principal places in the county finding but three 
Filmore men, 1 left for Jefferson county, where I was 
to speak for another week. 

Here I found five live Filmore men, although that 
county was said to have eight hundred men enrolled 
for him. Here I had a monster meeting, it was court 
week and almost everybody was in town that week ; 
they knew nothing of my manner of speaking, and 
when the time came for the meeting, the Judge of the 
court was nominated for chairman ; he declined, say- 
ing that he could not be chairman of a meeting in the 
interest of Democracy. We got a man to act in his 
place, who introduced me as a Filmore speaker who 
would address them. I began by saying, that I had 
no doubt but that there would be more disappointed 
people there to night, than was ever in that court 
house before at one time. 

I began my speech in my usual way, and when I 
got to that part that alluded to Fremont stealing 
cattle and being a Roman Catholic the manner in 
which I got around it, and brought it to bear upon 
the Democrats, brought down the Fremont men with 
loud and continued applause. When order was re- 
stored up jumped a fellow from Philadelphia, that had 
been sent there under pay of the Democratic party to 
intercept me (for they had heard the turn that I had 
taken on them) and he began to denounce me, and had 
the impudence to ask me, if that was the kind of a 
speech that I was sent there to make. You were sent 
here to make Filmore speeches, said he, and here you 
are making Fremont speeches, Hold on, says I, you 
shall have a chance when I am done. I then com- 
menced and gave the whole history of the case, how I 
had been deceived into the belief that Fremont had no 
party, and that Filmore was going to carry every- 
thing before him in the western part of the State ; 
I told how and where the money came from and who 
paid my bills at Pittsburg, and how opposed I was 



—173— 

to the Democratic party and then asked the 
people present, wether I was not justifiable in the 
course I was pursuing, when the old judge raised up 
and offered three cheers for the Buckeye Blacksmith 
and the whole house came down with loud applause. 
I then told this fellow he could take the stand, which 
he did, and commenced to abuse me, but was soon 
told by the crowd, that if he did not want to be ducked 
in the mill pond, he had better stop that kind of talk, 
when many sung out in the crowd, duck him, duck 
him, duck him, let us duck him anyhow, he has no 
business here, and if the Judge and myself had not 
interfered, he would have got into trouble there that 
night, but we got the people quiet, and he left at a 
late hour that night for a town some ten miles away. 

In all the travels of ray life, I never made a speech 
that gave more satisfaction than that speech did that 
night; I had shown so conclusively that the whole Fil- 
more movement was conducted in the interest of the 
Democratic party and with their money, that every 
Fremont man in that great meeting was ready to fight 
if necessary for me. They said, that I have done 
them more good than any other man could have done 
in the country ; I have no doubt, but that fellows in- 
terrupting me in the way he did, done us great good. 
The effect of that meeting was, that the whole five 
Filmore men who were there when I began to speak, 
all came out boldly for Fremont as soon as the meet- 
ing was over. I filled all the appointments that had 
been made for me in that county and two or three in 
Snyder county and then turned my face toward home 
again, arriving there a few days before the election, 
where I spoke three or four times every night until the 
election. 

After I returned to Philadelphia and began to 
speak at the various "Ward meetings, speaking at two 
and three meetings every night telling them about ray 
travels through the western part of the State, declar- 



—174— 

ing to them that there was no Fibno re party outside 
of Philadelphia. The Democrats and the leading Fil- 
raore men and their papers began a tirade of abuse 
against me, and even had the assurance to declare in 
face of all the facts of the case, that Filmore was the 
only opposition that Buchanan had, and many of them 
came to my meeting and denounced me as a liar when 
I was telling the truth. But notwithstanding all their 
abuse I went ahead, well satisfied that the Filmore 
men were coming over daily not only by hundreds, but 
by thousands. And I have no doubt, that if we could 
have had ten days more to have worked in, that we 
would have been able to have given Fremont the 
State. I certainly never did see such a revolution in 
politics in one week as there was in Philadelphia the 
week before that election, for as soon as the people be- 
came satisfied that their was no Filmore party out- 
side of the city, they came around by thousands ; a few 
days longer to have worked in would have accompli- 
shed all we wanted. The people were honest and 
wanted to vote right, so as to beat the Democratic party. 
Soon after the nomination of Fremont, his State 
Central committee proposed to the Filmore committee, 
to run a joint set of electors, pledged to cast the vote 
of the State to the man that had the largest number 
of electoral votes in the nation. ]f the vote of the 
State would elect Fremont, they were to be pledged to 
cast it for him, or if their votes would elect Filmore, 
then they should cast it for him. This the Filmore 
committee utterly refused to do, saying that they would 
not affilliate with Abolitionists. They saw very plainly 
that with a union ticket the State would go against 
Buchanan, and Fremont would be elected ; the De- 
mocrats saw it too, hence they paid any amount of 
money to this committee to keep up a separate organi- 
sation. Had they accepted the offer of the Fremont 
committee six weeks before the election, we never 
would have been cursed with Jimmy Buchanan's ad- 



—175— 

ministration, we would have elected Fremont, 
aud then we would never have been cursed with that 
terrible rebellion ; for weak a man as Pierce was, he 
never would have suffered the seceediug States to have 
withdrawn from the union. 

And I would here state, that the leaders of the Fil- 
more party of Pennsylvania, stand to day responsible 
before God, for every drop of blood that was shed in 
that rebellion, and poor as I am, I would not take the 
Presidencey and be compelled to meet those four hun- 
dered thousand martyred soldiers and their starving 
wives and childern at the bar of God on the day of 
judgement, as they will have to do ; for be you well 
assured that every dying groan of the soldier, and 
every sigh and tear of their bereaved families at home, 
God will bring up in that Day against them, and I 
am proud to day that my soul (whatever my other 
faults may be) has never been stained with the bl ood 
of my countrymen. 

The reader will thus see the various tricks and plans 
that the Democratic party resorted to, in order to 
cheat the people into electing an objectionable man. 
For unknown as Fremont was to the people and as 
little time as we had to bring him before them, 
he would most assuredly have been elected if he had 
not have been cheated out of it. Thus Mr. Buchanan 
carried the electoral vote of Pennsylvania by a ma- 
nority vote of the people, and was therefore elected by 
that vote. Hence our country was cursed with the 
greatest calamity that ever befell any nation from 
Adam until the present time. 

After the election was over, I began to turn my at- 
tention to my business again, but here I was broken 
down in health without much money, for I had spent 
all I had in the campaign that had just closed, and 
had been defeated in my undertaking. How to start 
again, I could not see, but my doctrine had ever been 
to hope on hope ever. So I looked a round a fewdays, 



—176— 

and at last found an excellent opening, provided I 
could raise two hundred and fifty dollars, but where 
that was to come from I knew not, I had but a few 
days to raise it in ; so I went to my friends, that were 
able to help me, but the election was over and they 
had no use for my services, and therefore were not 
willing to assist me with a dollar. The last day that 
I had to raise the money in, had arrived, and I was 
no nearer it, than when I began ; (so I thought at the 
time.) I had become very low spirited and out of 
heart, so I sat down on the curbstones to rest my- 
self, meditating upon my hard fate, thinking over the 
old proverb, that Republics had always been ungrate- 
ful, when who should walk up, but a prominent De- 
mocrat, and said, well Buckeye, what are you study- 
ing about, grieving I suppose over your late defeat, 
aint you well ; no, said I, but I am grieving over my 
misfortune in not being able to find a friend to help 
me out of a tight place, and then told him all about 
the place that I could buy out, if I could raise the 
two hundred and fifty dollars ; well said he, if you 
can get it for that sum, you can get it for two hundred 
cash and your note for the balance, this I am certain 
of; but where is the two hundred dollars to come 
from, said I ; he then said, I have it my pocket and 
will lend it to you, provided you can get the place in 
that way, and took out the money and gave it to me, 
with the understanding, that I was to give it back to 
him if I failed to get the place, and if I got it, I was 
to pay him as fast as I could. 

This raised my spirits up to fever-heat ; this caused 
tears of gratitude to rise in my eyes to think, that af- 
ter I had failed with all my political friends to raise 
a dollar, that God had sent a political opponent to 
raise me as it were from the grave. I at once went to 
the party that had the place and told them that all I 
could do with them, was to give them two hundred 
dollars in gold for the place, if that would suit them 



-177— 

there was the cash, they owed some rent that I told 
them must be left in my hands. They consulted 
awhile and said, that they could not accept it, so I 
started to leave the place, but before I had got down 
to the street they called me back and accepted my of- 
fer, and gave me a bill of sale on the place and keys 
and walked out; well I went home that night a very 
happy man I assure you, but before I left for home I 
went to tbe Ledger office and put a card in that paper 
for a partner with a cash capital of two hundred and 
fifty dollars to join the Buckeye Blacksmith in 
a money making business well understood by the 
Buckeye. 

The next morning when I went down to my place 
I found a number of men waiting for me to under- 
stand what business I wanted to carry on, and before 
night I had near fifty applications for the places ; I 
made a contract with one of them who paid me two 
hundred and fifty dollars cash for one half of the place 
that I had only paid two hundred dollars for the 
whole ; I had here made a pretty good thing of it so 
I went to my friend, paid him his two hundred dollars 
and had fifty dollars and half the place left, thus you 
will see that I had a pretty good start again. 

I went to work and learned my partner as soon as 
I could and we were doing a very nice little business, 
but unfortunately for me, we did not agree very well, 
he was not the clear thing, for he took every advan- 
tage of me that he could, which was very unpleasant 
to me, so much so that by the next summer I sold out 
to him for two hundred and fifty dollars for the other 
half of the place ; this was just about the time that 
Mr. Wilmot, the great Wilmot Provisoman, was nomi- 
nated for Governor of Pennsylvania, and as I was out 
of business I thought I would make a little tour 
through the State until the weather got a little cooler 
and then open up business again for myself. 

I therefore went to the committee, and they, through 



—178— 

their chairman, agreed with me to stump the State for 
them, and as it was early in the campaign they had 
no funds collected, they arranged with me to pay my 
own expenses and keep an account of it until the end 
of the campaign when they would pay me my ex- 
penses and something for my services. So I started 
and stumped the country until a few days before elec- 
tion and returned home. When I got back I found 
that everything was excitement in Philadelphia owing 
to the great panic in money matters, for it was during 
the great crisis of 1857 ; the result was that the people 
had failed to pay the committee what they had sub- 
scribed and they had adjourned and gone home and 
let the election go by default and I never got a dollar 
of the money that I had advanced to pay expenses nor 
a cent for my labor, which left me with but about 
ninety dollars to begin business with. 

I took what money I had and started in a small 
way and thus continued doing a small business during 
the years of '58 and '59 when the Presidential ques- 
tion begun to be agitated throughout the country, 
but I made up my mind that I would take no more 
part in politics for the simple reason that there are 
but few politicians that have any other principal than 
self-aggrandizement, they too soon forget the men that 
do the work for them, and for this reason I would ad- 
vise all young men to beware of politicians and in 
place of being a politician engage in some honorable 
business. 

Although I had taken but little part in politics 
since Buchanan's election, I had kept pace with all 
that was transpiring in the political doings of the 
country. I saw the inroads the South was making 
upon the North ; the plans that they were laying to 
get the whole Government into their own hands, that 
whenever they might pretend to have cause for a 
separation from the North, they would be prepared 
for it, they had been steadily preparing for secession 



—179— 

for a number of years, by getting a large prepon- 
derence of the officers of the Goverment both civil 
and military of Southern birth. 

During the administration of Mr. Jefferson he in- 
augurated a system of equalizing the Federal office- 
holders at Washington, so as to give each State its 
proportion of officers according to their representa- 
tion in Congress ; this system seemed to give entire 
satisfaction to the whole country, and indeed this 
seemed to be the only fair way of disposing of the 
matter for each State to have its share of the public 
patronage of the Government. 

This system was continued without much deviation 
through the various administrations that followed Mr. 
Jefferson's until Mr. Pierce took his seat as President, 
he commenced to deviate from that rule, by appoint- 
ing a large excess of these officers from the Southern 
States; this, of course, was done as a reward for his 
nomination for the Presidency by the votes of the 
South in the National Convention. 

Will any man pretend to say that Franklin Pierce 
himself, or any other Northern man for one moment 
ever thought of Mr. Pierce as a candidate for Presi- 
dent of the United States, and it was said at the time 
that when the news reached Mrs. Pierce that she took 
it as an insult to her husband, and could scarcely be 
made to believe it, but the S^uth had sprung him on 
the ticket as an available man to suit their purposes, 
for with him at the head of the Government as their 
tool, they could have things pretty much their own 
way, which they had, and thus were able to force 
upon the country a laro:e overplus of their friends in 
the Federal offices at Washington. 

In the campaign of 1856 when we charged it upon 
the Democracy the unfairuess of the distribution of 
the public offices at Washington they readily ac- 
knowledged the fact, but pledged themselves to the 
people that the election of Mr. Buchanan would r6me- 



—180— 

dy that evil as he was pledged to walk in the foot- 
steps of his illustrous predecessors Jefferson, Madison 
and Jackson. But alas how very soon are the promi- 
ses of politicians forgotten. As soon as Mr. Buchanan 
was installed in his office instead of going back to the 
old Jeffersonian doctrine in the distribution of those 
offices equally among the States he not only followed 
in the footsteps of Mr. Pierce, but went far ahead of 
him in his appointments of Southern men to office, so 
that by the close of his admiuistration eleven out of 
every fourteen of the officers at Washington both civil 
and military according to the blue-book or depart^ 
ment register, were of Southern birth, why was this 
done, there must be a motive for it, well I will tell 
you why it was done. 

The South had been preparing for a separation 
from the North for a number of years, they desired a 
Government with slavery for its basis and were sooner 
or later fully expecting to get it, and in order to be 
fully prepared, whenever they were ready to strike the 
blow, it was necessary for them to have not only the 
army and navy in the hands of their friends, but the 
Treasury also, as well as all the archives of the coun- 
try ; this they had been gradually securing by getting 
a large majority of both civil and military offices in 
their hands during the administration of Pierce and 
Buchanan. 

Thus they were in the closing year of Mr. Buchanan's 
administration about as near ready to make their con- 
templated blow at the Government as they ever could 
possibly get. But before it would be safe to make 
that blow it was necessary to divide the Democratic 
party, for they saw very plainly that the Republican- 
party of the North would run a candidate on free soil 
for free men principles, and there was a large vote in 
the North opposed to Democratic principles, that 
would not unite with these free soilers, and that if 
they run a strait Democralic candidate he must be 



—181— 

elected, as the opposition would certainly be divided, 
and thus they would be left without a pretext for a 
separation, hence it was necessary to divide the Demo- 
cratic party also. 

Well about this time the opposition or a part of the 
opposition to Democracy met in convention and norai- 
na'^^ed John Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and very 
soon after the Democrats met at Charleston, S. C, to 
nominate a candidate of their choice, no I can't say of 
their choice for they had no choice, they did not in- 
tend to make any choice, the Southern portion of that 
convention only met there to mature their plans for 
dividing the Democratic party and not to nominate a 
candidate; if they had met for that purpose why did 
they not make a nomination. Stephen A Douglas 
went into that convention with a clear majority of 
over forty votes on tl e first ballot, why was he not 
nominated, I will tell you. 

Mr. Bell had been nominated by a large body of 
men, and the Republicans had already called a con- 
vention to nominate their candidate, this would so 
divide the Northern opposition that if Mr. Douglas 
was put on their ticket he would most likely carry the 
North through this division in the opposition party, 
hence they were compelled to break up the Charleston 
convention in a row, and adjourn to meet in Balti- 
more some weeks later, and when they did meet what 
was the result, Mr. Douglas had a large majority on 
the first ballot, after which the Southern wing of that 
convention kicked up another row and withdrew and 
organized another convention, and nominated John C. 
Breckenridge, a fire eater of Kentucky as their can- 
didate, while the regular convention nominated Mr. 
Douglas, as their standard bearer, and thus we had 
two distinct and separate Democratic candidates in 
the field. 

Douglas got but few votes in the South, as it might 
well be supposed. It was not their intention that he 



—182— 

should, neither did they intend that he should have 
too many in the North. Their plan was to so divide 
the Democratic party in the North as to make the 
election of the Republican candidate, whoever he 
might be (although he was not yet nominated^ certain. 
Then they could go before the rank and file of the 
Southern people and inflame their hearts against the 
North, by telling them that the North had decided 
against the South and her institutions, and in favor of 
the freedom of the negroes. This of course would be 
a sufficient cause for breaking up this government. 

The great Republican party met and nominated 
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, and thus we had four 
candidates in the field. Each party seemed to hold 
up their man as the only fit person for the office he as- 
pired too. And from the way matters stood at the be- 
ginning of the campaign, it bid fair to be a very live- 
ly as well as very exciting one. The Federal officers 
were nearly to a man enlisted on the side of Mr 
Breckenridge, while the farmers and w^orking men of 
Democracy generally preferred Mr. Douglas. While 
in the opposition ranks Mr. Lincoln appeared to take 
the lead, he was a working man himself, and appeared 
to take well -with that class of voters. I as yet had 
taken no part in the matter, but was determined to go 
for Lincoln, for the reason that I knew him personally 
and knew him to be an honest man, (and Henry Clay 
once said that an honest man was the noblest work of 
God.) I w\as therefore determined to do all that I 
could for him. 



CHAPTER IX. 

CAMPAIGN OF 1860 — SECESSION — 19tH APRIL IN 

PHILADELPHIA — AN OFFICE HOLDER IN 

THE CUSTOM HOUSE. 

MR. LINCOLN was a strong man, I knew that 
he was hard to beat, that he had scarcely ever 
undertaken anything that he did not succeed in, I 
therefore felt every confidence in his success, and 
tendered my services to the State committee, as a 
speaker, so that they could use me whenever they 
wanted me. During the several years that I had 
travelled through various counties of the State as a 
dagaerrotypist, I had always told the people that my 
pictures would not fade, while most of the others 
would, in this I knew I was right, as a few years had 
proven ; this circumstance I took advantage of. I 
had told them the truth then, so they would be more 
likely to believe me now than they would other speak- 
ers. I therefore sent out small bills to a few places 
that were strongly Democratic, to try what effect I 
could produce among them. The first place that I 
went to I found a very large meeting collected to- 
gether, both ladies and gentlemen. They had brought 
a grand supper with them, each farmer had brought 



—184— 

a basket full of nice things to eat, and had arranged 
a long temporary table in an orchard near by, and had 
it filled to overflowing with the best the country could 
produce. I did not arrive until the time for speak- 
ing, and was taken on the stand at once. 

When I was introduced to the audience, I told them 
that I was glad to meet them after so many years of 
separation ; that I had formed a friendship for them 
when among them some years ago taking their pic- 
tures, that I had never forgotten, and I was very cer- 
tain that I never forgot their kindness to me at that 
time. I had come among them a stranger, and had 
told them that I would do them good work, and that 
my work would not fade as most others had, and 
would ; you believed me then and got me to take your 
likeness, and I feel very certain that none of you have 
had reason to regret having your work done by me. 
No, no, said a hundred voices, at the same time hold- 
ing up their pictures, saying here they are as good as 
ever. Well gentlemen, I told you the truth then, 
and I have come here to tell you the truth now ; when 
many of them cried out that is what we want to hear. 
Then gentlemen if you will give me your attention, I 
will try and tell you all I know about the questions 
that are now before the people. 

I told them that the election of a President was 
similar to a farmer employing a man to superintend 
his farm for him, we had a large farm to take care off, 
the whole United States, and we wanted to employ a 
man to superintend it for us. We had four gentlemen 
applying for the situation, and it w^as for the people 
to decide which of these men are best qualified for 
the place. If you farmers wanted a superintendent 
on your farm, who would you employ, you would em- 
ploy a farmer, one that fully understood farming 
would you not, you certainly would not employ a 
lawyer or a merchant, for the simple reason that he 
did not understand the business. So it is with all 



—185— 

other trades, if you want a coat made, yon go to a 
tailor, not to a shoemaker, because he would not un- 
derstand the business. So it is in choosing a man for 
President, we should throw aside politics, and try 
our utmost to get a man who understands the wants of 
the working men, as a large majority of us are work- 
ing men ; we should get a man who knows how to feel 
for us and one that understands our wants. My friends 
I am well acquainted with Mr. Lincoln, and know him 
to be the man who does understand our wants. He 
has been a working man himself, and knows what a 
hard days work is worth, he has worked many a long 
day, hard for fifty cents, and knows exactly what it 
is worth, and what kind of laws the working man 
needs to protect his industry. They say that he was 
once a rail splitter, well, so have you and I split rails, 
but is that any disgrace to him or us ; no my friends 
it is an honor to any man to have earned his own liv- 
ing by the sweat of his brow. Does it prove that be- 
cause you and I or Mr. Lincoln or any other man has 
had to work for our living, that he is not capable of 
doing any thing else ? No my friends, the best and 
greatest men that this nation has ever had, were self 
made men. 

Another reason why we should elect Mr. Lincoln 
is, that he is an honest man, and every man of all 
political views, that ever knew him, will say so. There 
is not a farm in Illinois where he is known, that he 
cannot buy on his word, there is no need of a written 
contract with him, his word is law, and every body 
knows it that knows him ; therefore I think he is de- 
cidedly the best man to go for. Mr. Bell is a good 
and an honest man, but he has no show to be elected, 
and therefore the fight is entirely between Mr. Lin- 
coln and Douglas, against whom I have not a word to 
say. Mr. Douglas is a great Statesman, probably as 
great a man as we have now living in this country, but 
gentlemen Mr. Douglas is and has been raised a law- 



—186— 

yer and cannot understand the wants of the people 
as well as Mr. Lincoln does. It is not possible that 
he could, he never having done a days work in his 
life cannot know v/hat it is worth, or what laws would 
he needed to protect him as Mr. Lincoln does. I 
therefore conclude that the best thing we can do is to 
lay aside all politics, and give an undivided support 
to the v/orking man's friend, honest Uncle Abe, as he 
is called by the people who know him best. What 
do you think of it my friend, don't you think so too, 
if so in conclusion let us give him three cheers, when 
all hands joined in one shout for old Uncle Abe, ladies 
and all, after which an old Democrat raised up and 
said, "gentlemen Democrats, I move that we Demo- 
crats give three cheers to the Buckeye for the manly 
way in which he has spoken of his opponents, and 
the plain and acceptable manner in which he has 
presented Mr. Lincoln. This they responded to with 
thunders of applause. 

As soon as the speaking was over, I was invited to 
the orchard where we all partook heartily of a fine 
eolation that had been prepared for the occasion. 
After we had done justice to our appetites, and I had 
made a general round of hand shaking, we separated 
at a late hour of the night, or I might say an early 
hour in the morning, never so far as I am concerned 
to forget that nights proceedings. The most pleasing 
scenes that I passed through that night, was the tak- 
ing by the hand of ladies who were now married, that 
I had nursed on my lap years before, when they were 
little girls. A number of old gentlemen would lead 
their daughters up to me and say, do you remember 
the little black eyed girl that you wanted to adopt 
as your daughter, when you took her picture ten years 
ago, well here she is, and here is her husband, point- 
ing him out to me, when I would generally remark, 
that she was a pretty little girl ten years ago, and had 
not yet lost her good looks. This would please not 



—187— 

only her but all her friends, and I am very certain 
that no man ever left that place more popular than I 
did when I left there the next morning, for the land- 
lady told me at breakfast, that old as I was I could 
get any of the girls for a wife, that were there that 
night, for, said she, a number of them inquired 
of her, if I was married. This I told her was caused 
by my funny way of speaking, when the landlord 
spoke up and said, that he would give half of all 
that he was worth, if he could win the people over 
as I could. He said that a number of lifelong 
Democrats had come to him after our meeting 
was over, and said that I had told them the truth ten 
years ago about my work, and they believed that I had 
told them the truth to night, and that they intended 
to vote for Mr. Lincoln if they lived to the day of 
election, and the vote of that district on the day 
of election showed they did vote for him. 

I went to my next appointment, and was met by a 
similar crowd, mostly farmers and working men, where 
I took about the same course that I had taken the 
night before, and was received in the same cordial 
manner, except the supper in the orchard, but had a 
fine one at the hotel after the meeting was over, 
where we ate and drank until many of us became 
merry. In this style I continued until I had finished 
the appointments that I had made, when I returned 
home and reported to the committee all that had occur- 
red. They told me that they would have plenty of work 
for me in a short time. I went to work for a few 
days until they were ready, — but before I had 
been home a week they sent for me, and told me that 
I had to go back again to all the places that I had 
just visited, for hundreds of people who had not heard 
me, insisted on having me back again so that they 
could also hear me. So the county committee thought 
it very important to have me go over the same ground 
again, that I had just left. I therefore sent another 



—188^ 

Bet of appointments to the same places as before, and 
at the appointed time filled them to the entire satis- 
faction of most of the people who heard me. And I 
would here state that the main cause of popularity 
was the fact, the people had confidence in me, that I 
would tell them the truth, for I always made it a 
rule and it is the only true rule, never to make a 
charge on any man or party that was not strictly true 
and that I was not able to prove by authentic docu- 
ments if contradicted. This has ever been my motto, 
and should be the motto of every speaker who under- 
takes to make a political speech before the public, if 
he wishes to become a popular man with the people. 
When I had finished my last set of appointments in 
that county I returned home. The committee had 
made arrangements fi^r me to travel through several 
of the northern counties of the State, to speak at mass- 
meetings, which was very much against my will, as I 
never had a very great opinion of them. I always 
thought that the five or six speakers who would attend 
a mass-meeting would do more good by scattering 
around the country and hold six different meetings, 
than to all speak at one meeting. There would be 
more Democrats come to the six meetings than to the 
one, and would have a better chance to be convinced 
by hearing one speaker fully explain his ideas than to 
hear six short little speeches all of difierent ideas. — 
But I consented to go, for I knew that if there were 
a dozen speakers at a meeting the people would not 
rest until they heard me through, and if I am proud 
of any one thing attending my public life, it is this, 
that but few people have ever left the ground while I 
was speaking, and that I never have found a man who 
could hold an audience longer than I could; this of 
course I am proud of; neither did I ever find many 
speakers that were willing to speak after me, but al- 
ways prefering to speak before me, for the reason they 
said that I made the people laugh so much while I 
spoke, that they could not get a smile from them. 



—189— 

About this time there was a very lively contest go- 
ing on in my district, for the nomination of a candi- 
date for Congress, between Judge Kelly and Wra. B. 
Thomas. I felt a deep interest in that nomination 
I therefore went home for a few days to assist in the 
contest. Judge Kelly had done me a great favor in 
1857, when I was sick and needed a friend, and as I 
had always considered that ingratitude was the foulest 
blot on any man's character, that could ever be found 
to stain it, I concluded that it was ray duty to use 
every power at my command to aid in his nomination, 
which I did, and the country knows the result. We 
not only nominated, but elected him by a large ma- 
jority to a seat in Congress, which he has satisfactor- 
ily filled ever since. 1 have always felt proud that 
I was one of the men that sent Judge Kelly to Con- 
gress, for I look upon him as one of the best men of 
the present age. 

Mr. Thomas was also a good man, he was rich and 
very good to the poor, which made him very popular 
with the people, and had it not been for a little mis- 
management he would have beaten Kelly for the first 
nc>mi nation. Mr. Thomas never forgave me for the 
part I took in favor of Kelly against him at that time 
and although I wrote Mr. Lincoln a long letter as 
soon as he was elected, giving many good reasons 
why Mr. Thomas should be the collector of customs 
for the port of Philadelphia in 1861 ; yet he refused 
to give me anything better than a night-watchman 
along the river which only paid one dollar and a half 
per night. 

After the nomination for Congress was over and I 
had got a little rested I continued to speak all through 
the eastern part of the State until the election which 
terminated so successful to the Republcan party. ^ Mr. 
Lincoln was triumphantly elected over all opposition, 
and the little giant, as Douglas was called, was quietly 
laid aside and Breckenridge and John Bell were left 



—190— 

badly out in the cold ; thus ended that great and 
never to be forgotten campaign. It had resulted just 
as the South wanted it to. They broke up the Demo- 
cratic party for that purpose ; it was for this reason 
that Mr. Douglass was not nominated at Charleston, it 
was for this that they withdrew from the convention 
at Baltimore, for no man who has a sane mind will 
pretend to say, that Mr. Lincoln with a divided party 
at the North and no party at all in the South, could 
have beaten Mr. Douglas if there had been no other 
Democratic candidate running. Mr. Douglas was 
popular with the people and would have been hard to 
beat in a single fight, and would have beaten Mr. Lin- 
coln easy in a triangle fight, with Bell and Lincoln 
both running in the same party, but the South did not 
intend to have any other than a Republican elected 
from the start, so they sent millions of money to the 
North to keep up the split in the Democratic ranks. 
As soon as the election was over I went to work 
again at my business in a small way, for I had but 
little cash to start on, so I done little work for the 
want of means to increase it ; I struggled along until 
Spring, when I intended to apply for a situation under 
the collector of customs, but before Mr. Lincoln had 
taken his seat the entire South had organized a most 
powerful resistence and seven States had already 
withdrawn from the union and had established a sep- 
erate confederate government at Montgomery, Ala- 
bama, and to show you their sincerity in their opposi- 
tion to Mr. Lincoln, I will only refer you to one fact. 
The Democrats had a majority of some six or eight in 
the United States Senate, that could have held a check 
on the President, so much so, that he could not have 
appointed his own cabinet or any other officer of the 
nation, and yet these southern Democratic Senators in 
the face of all these facts before them, resigned their 
seats in the United States Senate and went through 
the entire South inflaming the peoples minds against 



—191— 

Mr. Lincoln, in order to get them to assist in separat- 
ing of the States, when they knew that Lincoln's 
hands would have been tied so far as doing them any 
harm was concerned. Yet they were only carrying 
out their intended plans of a separate government 
with, as I have said before, the intention of making 
slavery the basis of it. 

And when the time arrived for Mr. Lincoln to take 
his seat, what do we find to be the facts of the case. 
The Government in the hands of the South, the army 
and navy in their hands, the navy had been sent into 
far distant seas, where it was impossible for them to be 
reached in time to render any assistance in maintain- 
ing the government, the army also was in their 
hands, had been scattered all over the South, ready 
to be used by them against the government they had 
swoin to defend. They had taken the precaution to 
remove all our guns and ammunition out of reach, 
and every dollar as well as every dollars worth of 
available funds had been scattered through the South, 
so that when Mr. Lincoln should reach AVashington, if 
he ever did alive, he w^ould find the capital almost 
entirely in the hands of his enemies, and a formid- 
able army across the river and he alone without a 
dollar or a man to defend him, where he would 
fall an easy prey to their hellish malice. 

But in this they were mistaken, as they were in 
many other things, they had no idea that the North was 
so easily aroused. They had already fired on Fort 
Sumpter, and the blood of the North had begun to 
warm up almost to fever heat and wanted but little 
more to set it a boiling. They were determined that 
as their President had been elected fairly, that he 
should take his seat at all hazards. 

The threats had been so loud that the friends of 
Mr. Lincoln thought it the most prudent for him to 
change his intended route to Washington, and in place 
of going from Harrisburg to Baltimore, where it was 



—192— 

they were prepared to assasinate him, that he should 
go by the way of Philadelphia acd Baltimore disguised 
as a common old farmer, and thus escape his intended 
murderers. Thus he reached Washington where he 
was safe among his many friends who had preceeded 
him there. And on the 4th of March in the presence 
of the thousands of his friends, who had congregated 
took the oath of office which he never violated. 

But he soon found that it was necessary to call out 
the military to defend the Capital against an army of 
rebels that were already organized to march against 
it. The people from one end of the North to the 
other responded to the call at a moments warning, and 
when they reached Baltimore they met the first armed 
resistance, and then and there was the first blood shed 
in that damnable rebellion ; and had it not have been 
for Mayor Henry of Philadelphia, on that memorable 
19th of April, the city of Baltimore would have been 
laid in ashes in twenty four hours after they fired on 
the Northern troops. But Mayor Henry prevailed on 
the people to have patience, saying at the same time 
that Baltimore would right herself in twenty four 
hours, and if she did not, he would not interfere with 
them, that they could do as they pleased. This had 
the desired effect of quieting down the excitement for that 
day. And if Baltimore had not righted herself and 
had fired on any more Northern troops, there were 
fifty thousand men in Philadelphia, ready to take an 
oath never to eat, drink or sleep, until Baltimore was 
in ashes. And that it certainly would have been, had 
they continued to publicly obstruct the passage of 
troops through it. But the worst thing they done 
after the 19th of April, was to send a committee to 
the President to say to him that he must not desecrate 
the soil of Maryland by sending Northern troops 
th rough it, but they came away with a flea in their 
ear, for Mr. Lincoln plainly told them that it was too 
far for him to march the troops around Maryland and 



—1 OS- 
he had not time to dig a tunnel under it and the men 
had no wings to fly over it, and therefore he should 
have to march them through it. This struck them 
like a bombshell. They found out for the first time 
that there was pluck enough in old Abe. as he was call- 
ed, to take care of tha Government, notwithstanding 
one tliird of the people in it were arrayed in arms 
against it. The only blunder that Lincoln made in 
the start, he placed too much confidence in some of his 
officers. Had he have had the right kind of a man 
at the head of the army at the first Bull Run fight, 
he might have ended the rebellion then, but he had 
traitors in his camp at that time, and a long time after. 
Had Grant have been at the head of the army at 
Richmond when little Mac was there, the war would 
have been ended then. But it was not little Mac's 
programme to whip his Democratic brethren too soon ; 
he and his friends wished to prolong the w^ar without 
the shedding of much bljod, so as to create a large 
war debt to bring up against the Republicans as an 
electioneering scheme, and through that to break 
down the Republican party and elect him to the 
Presidency, when he could make peace on terms to 
suit them. 

I shall now return to the 19th of April at night in 
Philadelphia, which was the greatest night that I ever 
saw ; the whole people were in the wildest state of ex- 
citement that was ever known in that or any other 
city. There was one outpouring of the people, and 
meetings were held at various points. I went to the 
National Hall to hear the speaking, but found more 
than ten thousand out side unable to gain admission. 
I was soon called for, and I mounted a segar show 
case and commenced to speak, and the crowd becom- 
ing larger and larger every minute, until Market 
street wide as it is, was packed with people as far as I 
could see. I continued to so speak for more than three 
hours to the largest mass of human beings that I 
*9 



—194— 

had ever seen at one time. At one time in my speech 
some copper-head interrupted me, when he was seized 
by the excited people and hoisted above their heads 
and knocked and thrown from one to another as far 
as I could see ; what became of the poor devil I never 
knew, but one thing I do know he got a pretty good 
thrashing before he got out of their hands. When I 
concluded my speech, the whole crowd seemed to rush 
upon me to take me by the hands to congratulate me 
on my great speech as they called it, and many of 
the leading men of the city declared that my speech 
that night was the greatest effort of my life ; and I 
suppose myself, that I made the best speech that night 
that I ever did make, for the simple reason that I had 
more material to speak about than I ever had before. 
I was done speaking but how was I to get out of this 
mass of humanity, crowding as they were upon me, 
while six or eight would have hold of each hand and 
arm, shaking me nearly to pieces. At last ten or fif- 
teen police managed to form a hollow square around 
me, and gallanted me home, amidst the shouts of ten 
thousand people, all crying let me shake that man's 
hand. And after I did get home, they continued to 
shout for the Buckeye, until I got out on a balcony and 
made them another speech of over an hour ; when I 
closed they gave me three cheers and left. It was now 
near two o'clock in the morning. 

The next day very early the mob began to assemble 
about the Court House yard to hear the news and pre- 
pare for the defense of the capital at Washington, and 
when the call was made for all those who felt like 
fighting for the flag to step across a certain line which 
was made, I was the third man who stepped over and 
offered my services to my country, and in less than ten 
minutes, more than five thousand had crossed the line 
to fight for the old flag. (God bless and protect that 
dear old flag, and forbid that its folds shall ever be 
trailed in the dust.) 



—195— 

The mob then organized a large force and made a 
raid on every house which was suspected of sympathiz- 
ing with the South and gave the occupants but five 
minutes to hang out the stars and stripes, and God help 
the man who would have refused to hang them out — 
they would have hung him as high as Haman, and 
nothing could have saved him. Some hung them out 
and others ran away before the mob got to their places 
and thus saved their lives. Robert Tyler, son of ex- 
President Tyler, was one who escaped by jumping over 
the iron railing of the State House yard and running 
for life with five hundred men and boys after him with 
ropes to hang him, but Bob's legs were too long and 
nimble for them, and therefore he made a masterly re- 
treat, as they say McCiellan did from before Richmond, 
at the time that it took him weeks to advance ten 
miles forward, but was able to get back in a few hours. 
This they called a grand retreat, and thus it was with 
many of the Southerners who were in Philadelphia on 
that day, they saved their necks by making a grand 
retreat. 

The Monday following the 19th, those who had vol- 
unteered went forward to prepare to be examined and 
mustered into the service. I was there with thousands 
of others, ready to shoulder my gun, but the examin- 
ing Surgeon refused to pass me on account of my age, 
and a small defect in one of my hands. This came 
upon me very unexpectedly, so much so, that I sat 
down and shed tears of sorrow, to think that I was 
not permitted to assist in the defense of my country. 
The captain of the company in which I had volun- 
teered said that he would rather have had any other 
man in his company rejected than me, for which I 
thanked him publicly for his good opinion of me, and 
told him that I would try it again in another compa- 
ny, which I did, but was again rejected. 

About this time William B. Thomas was appointed 
Collector of Customs for the port and as I had been 



—196- 

one of the men who had assisted in procuring him the 
appointment, I had supposed that there would be no 
difficulty in my getting an appointment under him, 
but to make the thing more sure, I went to work and 
got up three different petitions, one of them I sent to 
John Sherman of Ohio, a Senator in Congress, who 
got twenty- three United States Senators names to it, — 
to another I got seventy-two of the leading Bank-Pre- 
sidents and Importers signatures, the other one I got 
over eight hundred leading active politicians to sign, 
and thus fortified I went to the Collector and handed 
him my papers, and desired him to read them, which 
he did ; after reading them he said, you are the best 
recommended man that I ever saw — out of eight thou- 
sand applications which I have on file, you are strong- 
er recommended than the whole of them together, — 
but I have no place for you except a night-watchman's 
place along the river. 

Now dear reader, you can see the principles of a 
politician ; he had used me to get the office he had, 
but as he had no more use for me, he turned his back 
on me. Well, what was I to do, out of business with 
no money to start on and n(4hing to eat ? I wats there- 
fore compelled to accept this small place until 1 could 
do better, but why did Mr. Thomas refuse me a genteel 
place when I was so well recommended ? It was be- 
cause I had used my influence for Judge Kelly's nomi- 
nation for Congress the previous Fall, and I was not 
the only man he punished, for no man in Kelly's dis- 
trict who had supported him, got anything under Mr. 
Thomas better than a night-watchman's place. 

I had applied for captain of night-watchmen but 
in place of giving it to me, he gave it to a man who 
never applied for it and was not able to read and 
write ; why was this done ? Why, because the man was 
a Thomas delegate in the Congressional Convention 
when Kelly was nominated and had knocked down a 
Kelly delegate for something which he said against 



—197— 

Mr. Thomas. So you see thai; this was qualification 
enough for him. As soon as I was appointed to be 
under his direction, he commenced to impose on me in 
every way that he could by detailing me to every mean 
and dirty job there was to do ; I was kept constantly 
on duty whether it was my turn or not, and il I grum- 
bled or refused to obey orders he would report me and 
recommend my suspension, (at which game I always 
beat him, as it was the Surveyor and not the Collector 
who had the trying of the case.) The Surveyor of the 
port was a good man and understood my captain very 
well, and on one occasion told the captain that he 
would believe me as soon as any man on earth, for I 
bad never told him a lie. 

My captains continued failures to have me suspend- 
ed or disgraced only increased his hostility towards me 
and mine towards him. I felt determined to have my 
revenge on him (you know that revenge is sweet) so I 
concluded to put up a case on him. I knew that I wag 
not able to whip him myself, for he was young and a 
good fighter, so I concluded to hire a big fighting Irish- 
man who lounged about the docks along the river, to 
give him a thrashing, as some satisfaction for his treat- 
ment to me. I saw the Irishman and agreed to give 
him two dollars and a half in gold if he would pick 
a quarrel and whip him. Well, the next night they 
met, when the Irishman picked the quarrel with him, 
and at it they went, but instead of the Irishman whip- 
ping him, he gave the Irishman a terrible beating, so 
the Irishman got the two and a half dollars and a 
sound drubbing in the bargain. 

Well, here I had made another failure, but I con- 
cluded that my time would come some day, and sure 
enough it did come very soon. The captain heard of 
a large lot of sheep which were for sale very cheap 
some eighty miles up the country, so he and another 
man started off to buy them, the captain leaving his 
duties to be performed by his lieutenant. I found out 



I 



—198— 

that he had left without leave ; I went at once and re- 
ported him absent from his duty, and summoned all 
the watchmen along the river, as also the lieutenant to 
prove his absence. The result was that when he re- 
turned he was summoned before the Surveyor when I 
proved my charges and had him suspended for ten 
days, (and ah how sweet was my revenge.) 

When he returned to duty I told him that if he 
would treat me fairly hereafter, I would treat him 
with respect and obey all lawful orders which he would 
give me. He however never abated his hostility to- 
wards me and continued to use undue authority over 
me, so much so, that I appealed to the Collector for 
protection, but he gave me no satisfaction further than 
to say that he supposed that I was as much in fault as 
the captain, and that it Avas my duty to obey him. I 
thus found that I had no remedy for my troubles in 
that quarter, so I concluded that I would write to some 
of my friends in Congress, they having just convened 
for the session of 1862. I wrote to Judge Kelly and 
laid all my troubles before him and asked him to lay 
them bofore the President and Secretary of the Treas- 
ury, and see if something could not be done for me. — 
He did as I requested and the result was, that John 
Covode, a membsr of Congress came over to see Mr. 
Thomas, the Collector, and sent for me, and in my 
presence told Mr. Thomas that it was the desire of not 
only the President and Secretary, but of a large ma- 
jority of both Houses of Congress, that I should have 
a respectable place in the Custom House, to which Mr. 
lliomas replied that he intended to give me the first 
vacancy that occurred. Well, said I, there is a vacan- 
cy now, just the thing that I want, why not give that 
to me ? He said he had promised that to another, but 
I should have the next chance. 

As soon as Mr. Covode had left town Thomas sent 
for me and asked me if it was me who was kicking up 
all this fuss at Washington with the members, and 



—199— 

■whether it was through me that it was done ? I frank- 
ly told him that I had written to a friend in Congress 
about the manner that I had been treated, and had 
asked him to get me a better place. He then told me 
that if I kicked up any more fuss about my place that 
he would discharge me altogether. 

I now saw very plainly that there was but one thing 
left for me to do, either to put up with my ill-treatment 
without making any more fuss about it, or, give up my 
place and seek some other employment. This I thought 
hard, after all I had done for ray party ; I therefore 
made up my mind that I would go to Washington and 
see the President if I had to walk there, so I gathered 
up what little money I had and went to the Surveyor, 
who was my friend, and got leave of absence for a 
week. I left to try my luck with the President, the 
Surveyor having often told me that I ought to go to 
him, that he was certain that the President would see 
me righted, and that I was very foolish to put up with 
the treatment that I had received when I could so 
easily remedy it. 

I went to Washington, saw several of my friends, 
and told them my troubles. They all advised me to 
go to the President which I did. He received me very 
kindly and told me that I ought to have come to him 
long ago, when he had plenty of places to give, that 
he hardly knew what to do with me now, but would 
look around and see what he could do ; that I must 
stay a day or two until he could find a place for me. 
He said that I must come to see him every morning 
until he got me a place. When I started to go away 
he followed me to the door and asked me if I had any 
money to pay my way for a few days ; I told him that 
I had but very little as I was very poor just now ; he 
took from his pocket a " greenback " saying as he did 
it, this will keep you until I can get you a place. I 
left and was surprized to find that he had given me 
twenty dollars. 



•_200— 

I went to the Capitol and told some of my friends 
what the President had said and done, which seemed 
to please them very much ; they said that he would 
not forsake me as some others had done, that I might 
rest contented, that I was certain of a place. I felt so 
too, for I had every confidence in Mr. Lincoln's hon- 
esty and integrity. I had known him for a long time, 
having spoken with him on the same stand for Henry 
Clay many yeai-s before, therefore I felt satisfied that 
1 should not make a failure this time. 

The next morning I called at the White House when 
the messenger told me that the President wished to see 
me and to walk in ; as soon as I went in the President 
said, how would you like to go to Baltimore to live ; 
I have telegraphed to the Collector for a place for you 
and he says that you can have an easy place there at 
three dollars per day, how will that suit you, it is the 
best that I can do for you at this time ; it will suit me 
first rate said I, it is just the thing that I want, and 
I am under a thctusand obligations to you for your 
kindness to me. Never mind that, said he, you are 
entitled to something better than that, for your valu- 
able services to our cause, but I have nothing better 
to give you at this time ; go down to Mr. Risley, the 
supervising special agent, and he will give you your 
commission, which you will present to Mr. McJilton, 
the surveyor of the port of Baltimore and he will set 
you to work. After thanking him again for his kind- 
ness, I left him and made my way to Mr. Risleys oflice 
where I in due time got my commisson and left for 
Baltimore, in better spirits than I had been lately. 

On my arrival in Baltimore, I went to the Cus- 
tom house, found Mr. McJilton and presented my pa- 
pers to him, when he very kindly introduced me to all 
the employees of his department ; I told him, that I 
wished to return to Philadelphia and settle up my af- 
fairs there, before I reported for duty, which would 
take me until the next Monday ; he said it was all 
right, so I left that evening for home. 



- 201— 

The next day I went to see the Surveyor and show- 
ed him my commission. He congratulated me on my 
success, saying that he was certain that Mr. Lincoln 
would take care of me. I got him to write me a very 
saucy letter of resignation to Mr. Thomas, which I 
copied and went in to see him, in order that I might 
ask him again for a promotion. There was to be a 
vacancy in the Inspectors department, a place that I 
wanted, and if he would give me that, I would send 
my commission back to Mr. Risley, but he told me 
that he could not promise me anything better than 
I had before, until next Fall. When I handed him 
my resignation he read it and said that I was pretty 
independent about my place. Why should I not be, 
said 1, when I have been to see the President who has 
given me a better place if I choose to accept it, at the 
same time handing him ray commission to look at, 
which seemed to take him by surprise. But, said I, 
if you will promote me I will send tliis back as I would 
rather stay here than go to Baltimore. He said that 
he could not give me a better place just then, but if I 
would hold on to my old place for a short time he 
would do something better for me. I could not see 
the point however, so I picked up my hat, bid him 
good bye and left, never to meet him again as a friend. 

That night I went down to the night-watchmen's 
office to bid them farewell, showed my commission to 
the captain and told him that I now held an office 
above him, and that if I ever caught him in Balti- 
more he should be the worst whipped man that ever 
left home. He only laughed at me and said that I 
was not the worst fellow in the world and thus we 
parted never to meet again on this side of Jordan, (as 
he is dead, he having died suddenly while attending 
a State Convention at Harrisburg some two years af- 
ter I left. So let his ashes rest in peace.) 

I returned to Baltimore on the following Monday 
morning and reported to Mr. McJiiton for duty, when 



—202— 

I was assigned to the Permit Department as one of its 
officers, whose duty it was to examine and pass goods 
to be taken out of the city by and to loyal people. 




CHAPTER X. 

APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE IN BALTIMORE CUSTOM HOUSE 

— GUBEKNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN PENNSYLVANIA, — 

VOLUNTEERED TO DEFEND BALTIMORE — 

CAMPAIGN OF 1864 — A DREAM. 

IT WAS on the 18th day of May, 1863, that I re- 
ported in Baltimore, and I had not been there but 
a few days before I discovered that "all is cot gold that 
glitters," neither did all that held office under the 
Government at Baltimore, love the flag of their coun- 
try as they should have done ; disguise it as they 
would I could see the rebel in them, and the hatred 
they had towards me as a Northern man. Baltimore 
was under bayonet rule, and no man was allowed to 
say aught against the Government for fear of being 
sent to the Fort for safe keeping, so hundreds of wool 
dyed rebels pretended to be loyal in order to get some 
of the loaves and fishes. That portion of them who 
held hatred in their hearts against the flag, also hated 
me and I could see it. They took various plans to 
drive me from Baltimore; when I would leave my 
seat for a few minutes, they would have pins doubled 
up and placed in my seat in such a manner as to stick 
in me when I sat down, and when I complained about 



—204— 

it, they would tell me if I could not take a joke, I 
had better go back to the North where I came from. 
At other times they would slip my coat that I wore 
in the street, into some other room, and sew the sleeves 
together from one end to the other; and smear mu- 
cilage in my hat so that it would stick to my head, 
when I put it on, and when I said anything about it, 
they would tell me if you don't like it go back to 
Pennsylvania where you come from, old Lincoln had 
no business to send you here anyhow. 

I put up with this for a few days until I became 
convinced that I could not stay among them unless 
this thing was stopped. So one morning when I went 
down I called on Mr. McJilton and asked him to step 
into the Permit Room, which he did, at the same time 
asking me what he could do for me. I said Mr. Mc- 
Jilton am I a regular appointed officer here, and am I 
entitled to the same respect and pay that others are ? 
He said certainly you are, why do you ask me that. 
I then told him how I had been treated since I came 
there. He looked at me in surprise and said, it has 
been done without his knowledge, and must not be 
repeated, if it was, he would discharge every man 
who had a hand in it ; this had the effect that I desired. 

They then changed their mode of devilment, they 
all refused to speak to me, although it was their duty 
to tell me by whose authority the goods were permitted, 
so that I could enter it on the permit. I could hear 
them say he came from the North, let him find out 
from whom the order came. I went to Mr.- McJilton 
and told him again about their capers, when he walk- 
ed out and told them very plainly that unless they 
treated me in all respects as they did other officers 
he would at once dismiss every man who violated this 
order. 

This last reprimand had the desired effect, they 
came to me and apologised for their rudeness as they 
called it, and promised to treat me better in the future, 



—205— 

whicli they did, and we got along very well together 
after that, until about the first of August, when the 
State Committee of Pennsylvania sent for me to stump 
the State for Gov. Curtins second election. I got 
leave of absence for that purpose and left for that 
field of labor. 

When I got to Pennsylvania this time, I found a 
great change in the sentiments of the people. The 
Democrats had carried the State in '62, under what 
was known as the peace policy, and were very san- 
guine of success in '63. They had been doing all that 
they dared do, to discourage enlistment and had since 
the war commenced condemned every act of the admi- 
nistration in putting down the rebellion, but never 
had a word to say against JefF. Davis or Lee, for carry- 
ing it on. They had always heard of a rebel victory 
before any one else, and never believed the news of a 
union victory when they heard it. When you told 
them of a union victory they were in too much of a 
hurry to stop and listen to it, their whole cry was, 
let us make peace with them, for we never can whip 
them, there has been too much blood shed already, so 
for God's sake let us call in our troops and let them 
go out of the union in peace. 

Andrew G. Curtin had been called the soldiers 
friend. Mr. Lincoln had said that he had done, and 
was doing, more to assist the Government in putting 
down the rebellion, than any four Governors in the 
country. This we had as a rallying word all through 
the State, and I made good use of it. But with all of 
Curtin's popularity at home, as the soldiers friend, he 
never could have carried the State that year, if it 
had not have been that Congress had taken the pre- 
caution to pass a bill allowing the soldiers in the field 
to vote. Pennsylvania had too many Republicans in 
the army, and the Democrats too few for the Repub- 
licans to have carried the State without the vote of 
the soldiers. This was one of the reasons, and the 
main one, why the State went democratic in '62. 



—206— 

After the war was over the Democrats claimed that 
there were more Democrats in the war than Republi- 
cans ; if so why did every Democratic Legislature and 
member of Congress from one end of the country to 
the other vote against allowing the soldiers to vote in 
the field, answer me Democrats if you can. The facts 
are these, every leading Democrat in this nation, not 
only opposed every measure for putting down the re- 
bellion, but every man who assisted in putting it 
down, both North as well as South. And I am very 
certain that the Southern rebels as they were called, 
are a better class of men than the Northern Copper- 
heads who were too cowardly to fight for what they 
desired to see effected, viz: a separation of the States, 
and I am certain that they are more to be trusted 
than a cowardly Northern Copperhead. I have never 
found one of them yet who was afraid or ashamed to 
maintain his principles, and that is more than you can 
say of one of those slimy reptiles of the North. 

But all their peace policy and loud talk about the 
enormous debt that Lincoln was building up for the 
people to pay, with all their hue and cry about 
high taxes that were crushing the people to the earth, 
they were not able to meet us on the stump ; why be- 
cause we would ask them what made the taxes so high, 
they would have to answer, the debt; we would then 
ask them what made the debt, they would answer, the 
war. Your answers are very correct gentlemen, but 
please tell us who made the war, and who are oppos- 
ed to putting it down. Was it not Democrats who 
fired first on the flag? Was not every State that 
withdrew from the Union democratic? Was there 
one Republican Governor in one of these States, if this 
is true, please tell me who made the war. These and 
similar questions they dared not meet before the hon- 
est people, and consequently refused to meet us on the 
stump, but contented themselves with going around 
among the people crying taxes, high taxes, millions. 



—207— 

yea hundred of millions of dollars of debt to pay, and 
increasing every day, and will continue to increase as 
long as these Republicans hold the reigns of the State 
or National Government in their hands ; electa Dem- 
ocratic Govenor if you wish to put a stop to these 
things. This was what I and other speakers had to 
contend with in that campaign ; they were afraid to 
meet us with such arguments, for fear that we would 
ask too many questions that they would not like to 
answer before the honest people. I for one, sent out 
a challenge to meet the best speaker and discuss these 
questions with him, but it was no go, they got out of 
it by calling me one of Lincoln's hirelings. 

Well the election came off and we beat them out of 
their boots, as the saying is. Curtin was triumphantly 
elected, as well as a majority in the Legislature, and 
other State officers. I returned to Baltimore full of 
glory, and was complimented by all those who knew 
me and loved the flag. I reported' for duty a few days 
after I returned, and had no difficulty after that with 
any of the men connected with my office, but had 
many flare-ups with the rebels of the city, — some of 
whom boarded in the hotel where I did, and many of 
the customers who visited the house were such, 
although the landlord and his sons were good Union 
men. 

I was boarding at the Franklin House at the corner 
of Howard and Franklin streets at the time that Harry 
Gilmor made his great raid through Maryland, and 
there were some thirty others boarding there, who 
were mostly pretended Union men, but I could see 
that they hated a Northern man. There were but two 
of us from the North, and their constant talk was, 
that no man ought to come to Baltimore to make a 
living, who was not willing to defend it. This 
was on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday it was 
supposed that Gilmor would be in or near Baltimore 
before morning, so those fellows talked very loud 



—208— 

about defending Baltimore. I knew who they were 
striking at, and said, why in the devil don't you go 
and defend it you want it defended so badly, and not 
talk so much about it. Why don't you go and defend 
it, said some of them? Because I don't think that it 
needs defending yet, said I, when it does I will go 
and defend it without saying half as much about it, 
as you have. Well the next morning about daybreak 
the bells began to ring the people to arms, Gilmor 
was coming, myself and room-mate put on our clothes 
and hastened down stairs to find all these fellows 
nearly panic stricken. I sung out come on you brave 
Baltimorians who have such a great desire to see Bal- 
timore defended, now is the time to show your pluck, 
I am going to help defend Baltimore. Wait till after 
breakfast said some of them, and we will go too. No 
man ought to live in a town who is not willing to de- 
fend it without his breakfast, said I. And I and my 
friend went down to the city hall and offered ourselves 
as volunteers. There was a company forming and a 
Colonel commanding the people to fall into ranks. — 
We stepped in and before 8 o'clock had our guns and 
forty rounds of cartridges in our cartridge boxes, 
and had marched up to the Lexington market and 
stacked arms for thirty minutes to provide some pro- 
visions to take with us out to camp Bradford. And 
before nine o'clock we were marching past the Frank- 
lin House where we saw most of those brave fellows 
who felt so much like fightins: a day or two before. 

Come on, said I, boys we are going out to meet your 
old friend Gilmor ; but nary a one came, they thought 
best to keep away from the smell of gunpowder. We 
marched out to Camp Bradford, where we were soon 
joined by several other companies, when we were placed 
on picket duty during the whole night without anything 
to eat except what we had in our pockets. The next 
morning Gilmor burned Gov. Bradford's house, which 
was within two miles of where we were ; we were joined 



—209— 

that day by a part of the 6th army corps, and they were 
worn out by their long march ; we had to do picket- 
duty again all that niglit without anything but raw 
bacon and bread to eat. In ten days we were marched 
to "Druid Hill Park" in company with the 6th corps 
and there I got a furlough to go to town and get 
something to eat. I went around-about way, so as 
not to run afoul of the 6th corps pickets and when I 
got to the Franklin House, I found several of these 
plucky fellows sitting outside smoking ; well Buck- 
eye, said one of them, how many rebels did you kill ; 
I said I killed as many of them as they did of me, 
when another one spoke up and said, he kill a rebel, 
he would run if he saw one ; would I, said I, setting 
down my gun against the house, you are a rebel and 
you can't make me run, and at him I went, but he 
backed out so completely, that I let him off with a 
good cursing. I picked up my gun and told him, if 
he was worth shooting, I would put a bullet through 
him, but as he was a villianous, cowardly rebel I 
would let him off. 

I got a basket full of bread and meat and a bottle 
of good whisky, and left for ray camp, but just be- 
fore I reached there I was picked up by a picket from 
the 6th corps who had been posted there after I had 
passed out ; he took me into camp a prisoner, where I 
was kept under guard till morning, when I was taken 
under guard to my own company, amid the laughter 
of all hands. I enjoyed it finely and had many a 
hearty laugh about it afterwards. The second night that 
we were at Druid Hill, I was placed on the extreme 
outer picket with two others of my company; we were 
standing under a large tree near the top of a small 
hill; it was about two o'clock at night when I saw 
seven men coming over the brow of the hill; J told the 
boys to prepare to fire and stepped out and said, who 
comes there, halt and give the countersign, when to 
my surprise they all fired on us, and started to run 



—210— 

into tiie bushes ; we returned the fire and then retreat- 
ed into camp, where we found the whole camp under 
arms, but we saw or heard no more of the enemy that 
night. 

On Friday night ten of us were posted in a small 
grove of timber, that stood in an oatfield on the Li- 
berty road, a short distance from our camp, when 
about midnight some persons unknown to us, fired a 
volley of bullets into the trees above our heads and 
made their escape before we could find them, although 
it was light enough to see a man for a long distance ; 
we searched the field over but saw no man in it. On 
Saturday afternoon we were marched into town and 
by seven o'clock that evening we were all mustered 
out of service and honorably discharged, without the 
loss of a man, and thus ended the memorable seven 
days fight, in which the Baltimore Home Guards took 
such a conspicuous part. It answered to talk about 
for a long time and many was the hearty laugh we 
had over it for months after ; on my return to the ho- 
tel I gave the rebel element that were boarding there 
to understand that the first one of them that said 
aught against me or the government, I would have 
them locked in the Fort. This had the effect to shut 
their mouths, as they hated the Fort worse than the 
devil ever hated holy water. 

After my return from the war I became very popu- 
lar with the men in our office, owing to the fact, that 
I was always ready to take the most extreme outer 
picket duty both day or night, and ready to go on a 
raid whenever desired, and always the foremost man ; 
they all said I had good pluck. I told them that it 
had always been my motto to act and not talk, that I 
had never known a barking dog to bite. 

There was one little matter that I omitted, while 
relating my campaign life in the army, which I will 
now relate. One night while I was on picket duty, on 
the extreme outpost, the officer of the day, in making 



—211— 

his grand round about two o'clock at night, in com- 
pany with two orderlies came riding up to where I 
stood ; I hailed them in the proper way, ordering one 
to dismount, advance and give the countersign, which 
they refused to do and continued to advance, the of- 
ficer in front, when I made one step forward and said 
halt, one step forward and you area dead man. Dont 
you know me, said he, I am officer of the day, let me 
pass or I will have you arrested. If you are the Ge- 
neral of the army, you can't pass me without the coun- 
tersign, therefore don't advance another step or I shall 
fire. When he saw how resolute I was his orderly dis- 
mounted and gave the countersign, wheni let them pass. 
He haa made his brag, that he could frighten me in- 
to letting him pass without the countersign, for which 
he expected to have a good joke on me, but he soon 
found that he had made a grand mistake ; I meant 
business, and he saw it. Had he advanced one step 
forward I should have most undoubtedly shot him. The 
next morning he sent for me and complimented me, 
for the manner in which I had discharged my duty, 
in not allowing him or any other man to pass me 
"without the countersign. 

I will now return to the Permit Department, where 
I was at work. I had a very pleasant time among 
the boys from that time, until the close of our connec- 
tion in that office. 

In the Spring of 1864 theRepublicans held their Na- 
tional Convention in Baltimore. I had the luck to ob- 
tain a ticket of admission to it. Lincoln, as you 
know was unanimously nominated for his second term, 
and Andrew Johnson was unfortunately put in nomi- 
nation by Parson Brownlow of Tennessee for Vice-Pre- 
sident, (oh, what a misfortune it was) and under the 
excitement of the moment, a vote was taken, and he 
was declared the nominee. I turned to a delegate from 
Pennsylvania and said, that nomination I am afraid 
will prove a curse not only to our party, but to the 



—212— 

whole nation, for no good, said I, can come out of Na- 
zareth, neither can there any good come out of An- 
drew Johnson ; I have known him for many years 
and have no confidence in his unionism or his profes- 
sions of love to the Republican cause. l\Jy friend 
differed with me, and said that he believed, that he, 
Johnson, was a soundly converted man ; I told him I 
hoped so, but had doubts, for I had known him too 
long and had never known him to entertain at any 
time one honorable principle ; but at the same time, 
for the love of Lincoln, I should swallow the dose. 

Very soon after the nomination we men in the Per- 
mit Department got up a set of meetings in various 
places in the counties, for me to speak at, one of which 
was at Westminster,|Carroll county. It was a monster, 
we had all the bigbugs of both parties there, all 
anixous to hear the Buckeye. As soon as I arrived 
I was taken in charge of a committee, who wished to 
post me about what 1 should say. They told me to praise 
up Douglas, for he had many friends that would hear 
me, and the more I said in his favor, the better effect 
it would have. I told them all right, I know exactly 
how to treat that subject. When the hour arrived 
for the meeting to organize, they went about it with 
as much ceremony, as the Jews did, w^hen they laid 
the foundation of the house of the Lord, in the days 
of Aaron. When I was introduced, I told them, that 
I had not come there to talk much about Mr. Lincoln, 
as he was as well known to them as he was to me, his 
public acts were before the country and it was their 
duty to endorse or respect them at the coming election, 
and from present indications I had no doubt, but they 
would endorse them from one end of the nation to the 
other. 

Upon what platform do our opponents stand, and 
what doctrine do they ask you to endorse? Why they 
ask you to say by your votes, that the war for ttie Union 
is a failure ; this they have boldly put forth in their 



—213— 

platform, and this their press and speakers everywhere 
declare to be the case, but gentlemen has the war thus 
been a failure, if so, who made it a failure? Was it 
Mr. Lincoln or his friends, or was it ''little Mack" 
and his friends, these are the questions that you are 
to decide ; does any man doubt, that McClellan 
could have taken Richmond, when he first got in front 
of it, the enemy had but a small force there at that 
time, and what they had, were not prepared to make 
a very strong resistance, so there would have been no 
trouble with the large army, that he had to have 
marched in and captured the city, which would put an 
end to the war. 

But instead of doing this he laid in front of that city 
some six weeks, continually sending out his bulletins "on 
to Riclunond," until the enemy had time to concentrate 
all their forces there and fortify the place against him, 
then after one third of his army had died from deseases 
contracted in the swamps around Richmond, he finally 
spread out his army in a line^ sixteen miles long, and 
made the attack ; when the enemy found how he 
had weakened his strength, by the way he lengthened 
his lines, they w^ith all ease broke his line, and he was 
compelled to retreat, and this they tell us he done iu 
good order, and they might have added iu quick order; 
he was able to fall back as far in one afternoon, as he 
had went forward in six weeks. So you see my friends 
that this was a grand failure. Further, while their can- 
didate was doing all that he could toward making the 
war a failure in the field, what were his friends doing 
in Congress and the State Legislatures of the country? 
Were they not voting on all occasions against raising 
men and money, to put down the rebellion ; can any 
gentleman before me, tell me the name of any man 
in or out of Congress, who ever voted for one man 
or one dollar to aid the Union ? If you can, speak now 
or forever after hold your peace. Again, what were 
these friends of McClellan doing at Charleston in 1880, 



• —214— 

in their National Convention, the time they slaughtered 
Stephen A. Doug'as ; did Douglas not go in that 
Convention with over twenty majority of the dele- 
gates? I say he did, then why was he not nominated ? I 
will tell you ; they were as near ready for a separa- 
tion of the States, as they ever expected to be, and 
they knew that if they nominated him, that he would 
be elected. The Republicans had no party in the 
South and were divided in the North, so there would 
be no difficulty in electing Mr. Douglas, as he was 
very popular with the masses, but they had tried 
him in the Senate and found that he was not the 
man to be bought or made a tool of, or in other 
words, he was an honest man, and one that loved 
his country. Hence they slaughtered him in Char- 
leston as also in Baltimore and nominated another, 
while the regular Convention nominated him, and 
then the bolters sent millions of dollars North to 
k:ep up a division in their ranks in order to elect 
a Republican President, so as to have an excuse to 
withdraw from the Union. 

And now these same fellows I find all over the 
country have the impudence to look an honest Doug- 
las Democrat in the face and ask him to vote for their 
candidate. I must confess gentlemen, that I am per- 
fectly astonished at the amount of impudence these 
fellows have, for I had thought, that with their past 
record stareing them in the face, that they never 
would again have the hardihood to look any man 
in the eye, and ask him for his vote, let alone a 
friend of Mr. Douglas, the man above all others 
that they tried to destroy. This brought down the 
house with loud applause, especially the friends of 
Douglas ; after a few more remarks I closed. 

After the meeting was over I was surrounded by my 
friends and shaken nearly to pieces, many of them 
telling me that the course I had pursued would do the 
cause great good in that place, as there were a large 



—215— 

number of the friends of Mr. Douglas there that night 
and were well pleased with ray reference to him and 
said that I had told them the truth that night in a 
way that they would not forget. 

I spoke at several other places in the counties 
around Baltimore, in a similar manner, with about 
the same effect and became very popular with the 
people whereever I went. After I had closed my ap- 
pointments that I had made in Maryland, the Penn- 
sylvania committee sent for me and I went there, 
where i met as usual a very warm reception. The 
committee sent rae over my old stumping ground, 
where I had an opportunity of meeting my old friends 
as well as many of my old opponents ; but here as 
well as in Maryland, I found that the great rallying 
cry of the Democracy was, the war was a failure; 
here they claimed to be Union men and to be better 
Union men than the Republicans were, they said that 
they were in favor of making peace with their erring 
brethren of the South, by calling home our troops 
and stop the shedding of any more blood, that we never 
could conquer them until we had killed the last man 
of them for they were to high minded to ever yield to 
Abe Lincoln or his hirelings ; they further told the 
people that Lincoln had set the niggers free and that 
they could not live in the South after the war was 
over, but would come North and underwork the 
white laborers and be the means of starving them all 
out of the country, and fill the whole North with 
black laborers. These men had changed their plan 
of electioneering very materially in the last four years. 
Then they told the people that Lincoln and his party 
wanted to set the niggers free, and if they did, they 
were too lazy to work without a master and if free 
they all would come North, where they would steal 
and murder for a living, and that no man would be 
safe at night in his bed from them. 

These and similar plans they resorted to, in order 



—216— 

to draw the people away from the true issue before 
them ; their war record they were not willing to talk 
abjut, but had a great deal to say about McClellan 
and he would have ended the reoellion if he had been 
let aione ; but they forget to tell the people that at 
the battle of Antietam when Lee was whipped and 
out of amunition and McClellan with twenty thous- 
and reserve troops only two or three miles away, 
granted Lee an armistice just at night for twelve 
hours to bury his dead, which Lee took advan- 
tage of, and during the night in place of bury- 
ing his dead made his escape with his army 
across the Potomac and got away. Why didn't Mc- 
Clellan capture him then? The answer is, he was 
not ready, he was to be the candidate for the Presi- 
dency in '64, he was to prolong the war, in order to 
build up a gr^at National debt, to be chargeable 
to the Republican party, and this they intended as 
the rallying cry of the Democracy and through that 
cry they expected to elect little McClellan, and then 
he could make terms of peace to suit our erring bro- 
thers. 

McClellan had been constantly making little speech- 
es to the soldiers during the time he had command of 
the army, and always had a news paper reporter there 
to report his speeches, to send them to the North for 
publication. He had flattered his men into the belief 
that he was a great man, and indeed he had gained 
the good opinion of the people all over the countrj'-, 
and had he done his duty at Richmond or even at 
Antietam, nothing could have prevented him from be- 
ing President. But as it was he had showed his in- 
tentions so clearly that the whole country lost confi- 
dence in him, not in his ability as a soldier but in his 
patriotism. Many of the best men of the country 
had serious doubts whether or not, that he had been 
the means of giving the enemy much valuable infor- 
mation, concerning many things that were transpiring 



—217— 

within our lines ; indeed the opinion became so prev- 
alent that the department was compelled to suspend 
him from the command of the army of the Potomac. 

These as well as many other of their short comings 
I made good use of. I challenged their leaders to 
meet me on the stamp and discuss these great questions 
with me, but in most cases they declined to accept my 
challenge. At last however I found one fellow fool- 
hardy enough to meet me; he had been a member of 
the Legislature in 1862, and was one of the fellows 
who voted against every measure brought before the 
House that session, that would give aid to the country 
in putting down the rebellion ; indeed he went so far 
as to vote against allowing a man to make a union 
speech in the hall of the House of Representatives. I 
made the opening speech, and charged the Democrats 
with beginning the war, and furnishing fuel to keep up 
the flames, and showed by conclusive evidence that 
they were responsible for keeping it up. This I show- 
ed by producing the proceedings of their meetings and 
conventions, in which they had held out hope and en- 
couragement to the rebels, as also their constant en- 
deavors to prevent enlistments, and the raising of 
means to put down the reOellion. I charged them 
with prolonging it by their constant and even their 
present opposition to the Republican party who were 
trying to put it down ; that the rebels looked upon 
it as in their favor, for I lived among them and knew 
what they said and thought. 

I put the question to him, and demanded an answer 
if every man North of the Pennsylvania line had been 
a Republican, or in favor of putting down the rebell- 
ion at once, would Gen. Lee ever have come across 
the Potomac river, or would we ever have had to fight 
the battle of Gettysburg, Antietam, or the South 
Mountain? If you answer yes, I will tell you that 
the rebels say themselves, that they knew before 
thev came over, that near half of the people on this 

no 



•->218— 

side of the line were their friends. Then if that is so 
who were their friends? If it was not you Democrats, 
if it was not you, why do the rebels hurrah for Mc- 
Clellan since his nomination, why don't they hallo for 
Lincoln ? Why can't you get a few cheers for old 
Abe from them, as well as for "little Mack." ? Please 
answer some of these questions for me. 

It was his turn to reply, but instead of replying to 
what I had said, he commenced on the negro, just as 
I expected ; he proved by the opinion of some learned 
Democrat, that the negroes were not quite human be- 
ings as they had more bones in their feet than white 
men, and said we Democrats are better friends to the 
negroes than the Kepublicans are, for they desired to 
turn them loose on the world to take care of them- 
selves, which they are not capable of doing, and we 
think they are better off with a good master to take 
care of them. Why even the clothes and shoes and 
the very hat that they wear, are provided by their 
masters turn the|poor creatures loose upon the world 
when they will have to provide for themselves, you 
will then see what will become of them. (The poor 
fool forgot that the negro had to earn not only his 
own clothes, shoes and hats, but his masters and his 
families too, and if he could earn enough to support 
two families when he was a slave, he certainly could 
earn enough to support one, when he is free.) He then 
undertook to show by their love for the negro, and 
their undying support of Gen. Jackson, and the great 
love of the Union as it was before the war, that he was 
a better Union man than I was, and then closed and 
gave me the stand to make my reply. 

I told him he reminded me of an old tanner in Ohio 
who had no sign to attract the attention of the people, 
his wife insisted that he ought to have one, so he went 
out and studied a while what kind of a sign he should 
have ; at last the idea struck him, there was a knot 
hole in one of the boards of his shop, he took out his 



—219— 

knife and cut the tail off an ox hide that laid there 
and stuck it in the knot hole, letting the huskey end 
of it hang out. Thinking it a good attraction tie went 
to breakfast and when he returned he found an old 
traveller with his bundle on his back, looking at his 
sign. He said nothing to him, but got his horse and 
went away to plant some corn, and did not return for 
several hours, but when he did return he found the 
old traveller still standing there looking at his sign, 
and said, what are you doing ideling away your time 
looking at my sign ; the old traveller turned and said, 
sir, I have travelled all over Europe and America and 
can very easily tell how the tide ebbs and flows, and 
how the sun rises and sets, in fact sir, I have never 
come across any thing in my life, but what I could 
investigate, unravel and make something out of it, 
but how in the devil that ox got his body through that 
knot hole, and has been all day trying to pull his tail 
through and can't do it, is more than I can tell ; so I 
say, how in the devil after all your opposition to the 
Union, you can call yourselves Union men, is more than 
I can tell. This had the effect that I desired, for the 
crowd yelled and cheered until he got disgusted and 
left the meeting, and that was the last I ever heard of 
him. I continued my speech to a late hour, and clos- 
ed amid the cheers of the crowd for old Abe and the 
Buckeye Blacksmith. Here I also paid a high com- 
pliment to Mr. Douglas, and wondered why the ghost 
of that great and good man did not rise and haunt 
the men that are asking his friends to vote the ticket 
that every rebel in the Southern army would vote, if 
they were allowed to. Mr. Douglas, 1 said was a 
loyal man to the flag, and his last words when dying, 
were, tell my boys who are absent, to be true to the 
flag of their country, and I was very certain that if he 
was living to day, that he would be a strong supporter 
of the war policy of the administration, for he did say 
a short time before his death, that "notwithstanding 



—220- 

he and Mr. Lincoln had diflfered widely in politics in 
former days, yet he would stand by, and support him 
in putting down the rebellion, and to the honor of his 
friends who are living to day, the most of them do 
stand by the old flag, as their great leader would do 
was he still among us. 

This course I found had a very good efiect in har- 
monizing the Douglas Democrats, a very large num- 
ber of whom were with us heart and hand in putting 
down the rebellion, as well as assisting us in re- elect- 
ing Mr. Lincoln, as could plainly be seen by the man- 
ner in which they would cheer me whenever I made 
these favorable allusions to the memory of their great 
leader ; also by their flocking around me after the 
speech was over, thanking me for the manner in which 
I had spoken of Mr. Douglas. I usually told them 
that it was my duty to speak as I had, for it was noth- 
ing but the truth that I had said. 

I travelled from place to place and spoke for some 
eight weeks, making from six to ten speeches a week, 
many of them from fifty to a 1 undred miles apart, 
causing me to travel bo'oh day and night, and on most 
occasions speaking to large meetings in the open air, 
and at least one half of the time I had to speak twice 
a day, miles apart, so that when the camp:iign was 
over I was very much prostrated, so much so, that it 
took me several weeks to recruit my strength. I had 
spent in that campaign near three months hard labor 
and all the money that I had, but on the day of elec- 
tion had the glorious satisfaction of knowing that I 
had assisted in putting "little Mack" to bed and tuck- 
ing the covers in around him, where he can quietly 
lay the balance of his life, dreaming about his future 
prospects for the Presidency. 

The people in this election not only endoresed Mr. 
Lincoln's war policy, but his honesty and integrity as 
an executive, by giving him the largest electoral vote 
ever given to any man in this country. In doing that 



—221— 

they Dot only condemned "little Mack's" war policy, 
but bis loyalty to his country, by giving him the 
smallest vote ever given to any candidate Avho ever 
ran for the Presidency in a single fight in this country, 
and I would here say that their decision on this occa- 
sion was a very righteous one. 

While I was speaking in Pennsylvania the papers 
said many fine things about me, which I took good 
care to send to our office, in order to let them know 
what I was doing, and how I was liked by the people 
up there. I sent them a glorious account of my de- 
bate with the Democratic Legislature man, and also 
sent them all the attacks made on me by the Copper- 
heads, and they were not a few, for they piled it on me 
pretty heavy. This I liked, for the simple reason that 
if ever I loose confidence in my own integrity it will 
be when a Democratic paper speaks w^ll of me. Their 
praise I never have had, nor never expect to court. 
I have always considered that their abuse was the best 
of proof that I was touching them in a tender spot, 
for I have always heard that a wounded pig would 
squeel, and the tree that bears the best fruit is clubbed 
the most. So I have found it in politics, the man that 
hurts the most will be abused the most, and if I was a 
agoing to make a dozen campaigns, I would be glad 
to have all the Copperhead papers in the country 
through which I expected to travel, to raise a howl 
against me, for it would be the means of bringing me 
into the favorable opinion of all decent men ; and if 
ever I should make another tour I would get them to 
publish abusive articles against me, even if I had to 
pay for them as advertisements, so certain I would be 
that it would bring me into the good graces of the 
best men of all parties, which I have always tried to 
merit. 

As soon as I had fully recovered ray strength, I re- 
ported at Baltimore for duty and I was received with a 
hearty welcome from all hands, who I am satisfied were 



—222— 

glad to have me back among them. They said that 
they were proud to have me as a companion, as there 
were few men who could kick up such a fuss among 
the Democrats as I had, and but few who could get as 
many complimentary things said about them, as I had 
while away from them. This of course was very 
pleasant to me to have their good opinion, and from 
that time until our connections as permit oflficers ceased 
we got along very pleasantly together. 

About the close of the year of '64 there was a prop- 
osition made to present Mr. McJilton the head of our 
office, with a silver set, as a testimonial of our good 
feelings toward him for his kindness and impartiality 
in his intercourse with us, as subordinate officers* It 
was intended to be kept a secret until the moment of 
presentation, which was to take place at his house, on 
New Years morning. There had been nothing said 
about the manner in which it was to be presented un- 
til the day before its presentation, when I was called 
on by the committee who had it in charge and inform- 
ed me that I had been selected as the speaker who was 
to make the presentation speech. I consented to do so, 
but told them as the time was short to prepare a speech 
in, they must not expect much of a one, but they said 
they would risk that, so the next morning we went in 
a body to Mr. McJilton's house, and there in the pres- 
ence of his wife and daughter and all of the permit 
officers I made the presentation speech, for which I 
received great credit, not only from Mr. McJilton and 
his family, but all present. They requested me to fur- 
nish a copy of it for publication, which I did, and 
Mr. McJilton's reply, which I had published in a Phila- 
delphia paper and a large number of copies sent to 
me for distribution. 

Nothing occured between January and the first of 
April worthy of note, every thing went on smoothly, 
we had but little to do, business had fallen off greatly, 
and we were expecting that we were going to loose our 



—223— 

places altogether, as Congress was talking about abol- 
ishing it during the session.v About this time my 
health began to fail me considerably. I asked for, 
and obtained leave of absence for a month to recruit 
my health, and concluded to go out West for a short 
time, so about the 10th of April I packed up and 
started and went to Pittsburg, where I stayed a day or 
two, and from there I went to Beaver some thirty miles 
down the Ohio river, where I delivered a lecture ; it 
was on the 14th of April, that memorable night that 
I never shall forget, nor shall I ever forget my dream 
of that night, I dreamt that I saw Mrs. Lincoln in 
the greatest agony that I ever beheld, dressed in white 
clothes, and seemed to be tearing her heart out of her 
bosom, and wailing in great distress. I was so much 
troubled about it that I could not sleep, but arose 
from bed and put on my clothes and went down stairs 
and at day break in place of going West, I concluded to 
go back to Pittsburg by an early train that passed there 
on its way East, and by the time we got half way to 
Pittsburg we met the train for the West, and received 
the sad news that Lincoln had been assassinated, and 
was probably dead, and by the time that \^e reached 
Pittsburg we got the news that he was dead. I went 
to the post office at once where I found more than five 
thousand people gathered together all bearing on their 
sad faces the truth of what I had just heard at the 
depot, Lincoln our Nations chieftain is dead. 

As soon as I was recognised in the crowd, I was in- 
vited to say something to the people, as it was known 
that I was personally acquainted with him. I stepped 
on the post-office steps, took off my hat and said : 

My fellow countrymen : I have a word to say 
if you will listen to me for a moment. I have travel- 
ed all over this continent as well as many parts of 
other countries ; I have been rich and I have been 
poor. I have been on the topmost ladder of fame and 
I have been in the valley below, but I must confess 



—224— 

that this is the darkest day of my life ; our chieftain 
is slain and the nation mourns. I can say no more, 
my heart is too full for utterance. The best friend 
that this country ever had is this moraing lying cold 
in the arms of death. God has permitted it to be so, 
therefore let us meekly bow to his will, for he doeth 
all things well. 

With these remarks I left the stand, while there 
were thousands of watery eyes in the crowd. All 
seemed to realize the facts that I had just spoken. I 
had to wait a few hours for the train for the East and 
before I was ready to leave, one of the papers had 
published my short speech and complimented it very 
highly. I bought a number of copies of the paper 
and sent them to my friends in Baltimore and else- 
where. I went to Philadelphia where I still had my 
home (I had not gone to Baltimore to make it a per- 
manent place of residence) and on my arrival I found 
almost every house in my part of the city draped in 
black. It looked very solemn — I could hardly rea- 
lize the fact that he was dead, but alas, it was only 
too true. The house next to where I lived was not 
draped, I knew that they were cursed rebels, so I rang 
the bell and asked if they intended to drape their 
house, when I was told that they had nothing to drape 
it with. I told them that if it was not draped in one 
hour, I would not leave one brick on top of another, 
for, said I, your party has killed our President and 
you are glad of it, but you shall seem to mourn by 
draping your house, or I will have a posse of men 
here in one hour to tear it down, and then I walked 
away ; but long before the hour was out they had it 
draped. I told my friends that I was the man to 
make a rebel understand his duty, and to do it to. 
That was the most sorrowful day that Philadelphia 
ever experienced ; there was but one feeling there and 
that was a feeling of sorrow. 

Aa soon as Mr. Lincoln's body had left Philadel- 



—225— 

pliia, I returned to Baltimore with a sad heart, for I 
knew that my only true friend was gone, and now that 
the war was over, the Permit Department would cease 
and I had no friend to get me another place. On my 
•return Mr. McJilton informed me that he had orders 
to dismiss all hands on the twentieth of the month, 
(it was now the first week in May.) He said he was 
sorry to part with us but there was no remedy for it. 
I put for Washington to see some of my friends to try 
for another place. Judge Sargent, the Commissioner 
of Customs, with whom I was well acquainted, told 
me that he would try and arrange it for me, so I went 
back in better spirits than those in which I had left. 
I said nothing about it to any of my colleagues, for 
fear they might interfere against me for themselves ; 
neither did I tell any person where I had been, but 
waited patiently for the day to come when we were to 
be discharged. It came at last — it was on Monday, 
and about 10 o'clock I received my pay and got my 
discharge. I was about to walk out when to my sur- 
prise a messenger told me the Collector wanted to see 
me in his office. I immediately called on him, when 
he told me that he had appointed me at the request 
of some of my friends at Washington, an Inspector 
of Customs, at four dollars per day, and handed me 
the oath of office to sign, and then swore me in and 
sent my name to the Surveyor to enter on his books. 
As soon as Mr. McJilton received it he handed it to 
the clerk for the proper entry, and then took me by 
the hand and said, boys let us congratulate the Buck- 
eye in his good luck in getting a better place than he 
has just left — he has been appointed an Inspector and 
I for one am very glad. 

If a thunderbolt had struck them they could not 
have been more surprised. Here were all my old 
enemies just dismissed without any hope of another 
place, and I, who so many of them had so often treat- 
ed with so much disrespect, promoted to a better one 



—226-^ 

than I ever had before. The great trouble among 
them was, how I got it ; who had got it for me ; what 
influence could I possibly have brought to bear ; they 
said the Collector would not have given me the place 
without some influence, more than my own. I told 
them that the Collector knew that I \yas an honest 
man and hence the appointment. 

My dear young reader, you will here see another 
evidence, that by doing right, you must in the end 
succeed. I had always done my duty faithfully, and 
Providence was taking care of me now. 




CHAPTER XI. 

Johnson's administration. — his motives and as- 
pirations. —HANGING MRS. SURRATT. — "A CAT 

IN THE MEAL TUB." REFUSED TO SELL OUT 

TO JOHNSON. — RESIGNED MY OFFICE. 

AS SOON as the excitement incident to the death of 
Mr. Lincoln had partially subsided, the eyes of the 
whole nation were turned to Andrew Johnson, who was 
now the legal head of the government. The South 
had reason to fear him, for they had said, and done 
many things against him while the war was going on, 
and now that he was at the head of the nation, they 
had reason to fear that he would retaliate upon them. 
The whole North seemed to have fears, that he would 
be more severe on traitors than was necessary. We 
conquered the rebellion, they had laid down their 
arms and had returned to their homes, and therefore 
the large majority of the northern people thought that 
we ought to be lenient towards them as long as they 
kept quiet and behaved themselves, but many had 
grave doubts whether Johnson would let them off' with- 
out at least punishing their leaders, and after he had so 
promptly offered a large reward for the capture of 
Jeff Davis, we began to conclude that he intended to 



—228— 

make short work with them. Also when Mrs. Sur- 
rat and her coleagues were tried and convicted his 
prompt action in their cases caused much alarm in 
the South, and considerable also in the North. 

Many thought at the time and think so yet, that the 
ends of justice did not demand their executions so 
soon after conviction. The most hardened criminals 
that the world ever knew, are generally allowed thirty 
days in which to prepare for death, but here we have 
an old feeble woman, who is not charged with the 
crime of murder, but only with being accessory to the 
murder of Mr. Lincoln, brought before a court mar- 
tial, at a time when calm reflection is almost impos- 
sible. Our great and good President has been mur- 
dered, and the whole nation cries for vengeance, it was 
scarcely in man to think, speak or act calmly on the sub- 
ject at that time. There seemed to be no doubt but 
that Mrs. Surratt knew something about the murder, 
but suppose she did, was it necessary, to meet the ends 
of justice, to hang her the next day after she was con- 
victed, or indeed was it necessary to hang her at all ? 
Could we not have been lenient to her, and saved the 
disgrace of hanging an old woman, by sending her as 
we did others to prison for life. I think we might 
hove done so, and received the applause of the whole 
world for doing it. 

But Andrew Johnson said no, she must die, and on 
to-morrow at that. The question very naturally arises, 
why was he in such a hurry, why not give her and 
her companions the usually allotted time? "Was 
there any danger of her or them doing any harm 
when they were locked up in prison ? Was he afraid 
that she would raise an army and be rescued from the 
hands of the government, or what was he afraid of. 
I have no doubts but that he thought the old proverb 
was true, that dead men and women tell no tales on 
the living. 

It is very certain that he had some motive for act- 



—229— ^ 

ing so promptly in this case, and I have many doubts 
whether on the day of judgement, when he will stand 
before her at the bar of God, she wont accuse him of 
knowing as much about the murder of Mr. Lincoln a=i 
she did ; there has always seemed something very dark 
and mysterious in that affair. Why did Booth and 
his companions untertake to kill Mr. Lincoln and all 
the lead mg members of his cabinet, and not try to 
kill Johnson the only man that could take Lincoln's 
place ? None of the cabinet were eligible to his seat, 
then why try to kill them and not the man who was 
to fill his place. These are questions I fear will have 
to be answered in the last day. 

It was in evidence at the trial of J. H. Surratt some 
time after the murder of Mr. Lincoln, that Booth was 
at the Kirk wood House on the afternoon before the 
murder, in conversation with Johnson. Why did he let 
him slip when he had such a good chance to put him 
out of the way. There must have been an understan- 
ding among them, that Johnson was to be let alone, 
as he was the only one of the heads of the govern- 
ment who was not attacked or an attempt made 
upon ; yet notwithstanding they had spared his life, 
there is no doubt but that he intended to deal very 
harshly with the rank and file. 

In 1841 after the death of Gen. Harrison, John Ty- 
ler began in good faith to carry out every measure 
that the Whig party had advocated and to all appear- 
ances bid fair to make as an acceptable a Presi- 
dent to the Whig party as Harrison would have 
made. This of course he did, not as a principle, but 
for a motive. He expected to build himself up with the 
Whigs, so as to get the nomination in 1844 by them 
for re-election, but before six months had passed he saw 
plainly that the Whigs throughout the country were 
centered and fixed on Henry Clay, and nothing that 
he could do would be able to change that fixed de- 
termination. He theiefore turned table not only to all 



—230— 

his former principles and professions, but to the Whig 
party that had elected him Vice-President, and from 
that time until the end of his term used every power 
at his command not only to destroy the Whig party, 
but to build up the Democrats. The result was 
that when his time expired, he went out of office 
despised and hated by the good men of all parties. 
So it was with Andrew Johnson, he intended not 
only to carry out every known principle began by 
Mr. Lincoln, but to go still further than he ever 
intended to go, for it was not Mr. Lincoln's inten- 
tion to hang the leaders of the rebellion, but to 
deal leniently with them, but it was Johnsons fixed 
purpose to put his iron heel upon them and crush 
them to the earth as dogs. This he intended to do, 
not because the country demanded it, but as Tyler 
did to build up a Johnson party in the North, strong 
enough to nominate him in 1868, and had the Re- 
publicans throughout the country after he hung Mrs. 
Surratt have began to form Johnson clubs in every 
town and county as they did for Grant, he would have 
hanged Jeff. Davis and Lee as well as hundreds of 
others as high as Haman, but he saw very plainly 
that he was not the man. General Grant was ^in the 
hearts of the people; he had conquered the rebellion 
and saved the country from ruin, therefore they 
determined to place him at the head of the nation 
as a reward for his faithful services in the field, be- 
lieving him as capable in the executive chair to 
serve his country as he was in the field of battle. 
Thus Andy saw that the thing was settled so far 
as his being able to get up a Johnson party was 
concerned so he, like his predecessor, John Tyler, 
concluded that if he could not rule, he would ruin, and 
at once turned the table to all his former professions 
and commenced an indiscriminate war upon the Re- 
publican party and all its known principles and poli- 
tics, and at once commenced without the aid of Con- 



— 23L— 

gress to reconstruct the rebellious States upon his own 
responsibilty, and in direct violation of the plans laid 
down by Mr. Lincoln. 

It was his duty as soon as he was called to the chair of 
State, to have issued a call for an extra session of Con- 
gress, for the purpose of reconstructing those States in 
a manner that it might see proper. The South would 
have been satisfied with almost any terms that would 
have been proposed ; but: in place of that, he under- 
took the job himself, and before Congress could meet 
in December following, he had so tampered with the 
leaders of these rebellious States by his appointments 
and reconstruction policy, that when they did meet 
they were not willing to accept any measure that Con- 
gress offered them, and from that day to the end of 
his term of office he never for one moment abated his 
opposition not only to every measure of the Republi- 
can party, but with every power at his command en- 
deavored to crush and disgrace Gen. Grant, not that 
Grant had done any wrong, but to vent his spite on 
the Republican party for their great love for and con- 
fidence in him, and thus for near four years we as a 
party not only had the Democratic party in the North 
to fight but the whole South, with Andrew Johnson 
and all his officeholders to back them. 

Early in the Summer after Johnson had become 
President, there were several applications for a change 
of officers in the Custom House at Baltimore, so I 
concluded, that as Mr. Hoffman the Collector had 
kindly given me a situation when I needed it, that it 
was my duty to assist in keeping him in his place, 
therefore with numbers of others I set to work to get 
signers to that effect, and in a few days succeeded in 
obtaining several thousand of the best citizens of Bal- 
timore asking the President to retain him in office. 
When all was ready, a committee of the leading im- 
porting men of the city were appointed to take all the 
papers to Washington and present them to the Presi- 



—232— 

dent in person. I being a pretty good talker, they in- 
vited me logo along, (this committee was composed of 
both parties); when we arrived we were very cordially 
recieved by the President, and after shaking hands 
with him we presented our papers, each one making a 
short speech ; none of us said anything about politics, 
only stated what the merchants wanted him to do. 
He during all our lemarks stood calm and coldly, listen- 
ed to us without a smile or a nod of his head, but when 
the last man, who had always been a rebel, came for- 
ward and said, Mr. President I do not come here as a 
Union man, but I come as a Democrat, I have not 
voted the Union ticket as I suppose these gentlemen 
have, indeed I have not voted at all since the war 
broke out, but I have come to you as one of the im- 
porters of foreign goods, to ask you to retain Mr. Hoff- 
man, without regard to his political views. The mo- 
ment that this gentleman said he had always been a 
Democrat, I saw Johnsons countenence brighten up 
with a smile, saying very pleasantly, I am glad to 
meet a good Democrat for 1 have always been one 
myself, and he appeared to take more interest in what 
he said, than all the rest put together. 

From that moment I lost all the remaining confi- 
dence I had in him, and as soon as I could get to the 
cars I returned to Baltimore and went direct to 
Collector Hoffman's house and told him Johnson had 
gone back to the Democratic party and that he would 
be removed as certain as he lived, which he was in a 
few days. 

As soon as Mr. Webster took his seat as Collector I 
put for Washington to try my luck again to keep my 
place, but this time I went to Montgomery Blair, he 
being very intimate with the Presideut. I concluded 
that if I had any hope it was through him. Mr. Blair 
at once acknowleged my claims on the party and went 
with me to the President and then to the Secretary of 
the Treasury, where we had a very pleasant interview. 



—233— 

I returned home with bright hopes of success. A few 
days afterwards, Mr. Webster sent for me and told me 
that he had sent my name down for re-appointment, 
in due time it wa^ anuounced in the papers that I had 
been re-appointed by Mr. Webster ag an Inspector of 
Customs ; this caused another flutter among my col- 
leagues, all of them wondering where the influence 
came from, that held me in my place. 

The situation that I now held was a more pleasant 
one than I had in the Permit Department, owing to the 
fact that the men composing the Inspectors Department 
were a better class of men and better Union men, than 
those that were in the Permit office ; they were very 
kind and respectable to me which made our relations 
toward each other very agreeable. 

About this time a friend of mine came to me one 
evening and asked me to go with him to a certain hall 
not far away, for a meeting. He said we have called 
a Johnson and Swanu meeting and intend to form a 
club of that name, we have taken the start of the 
the other wards, so that if it comes to anything 
we will have the name of starting it. I told him that 
I would go along, but I could not take any part in 
it, for I had great fears that both, Johnson and Swann 
had or would soon desert our party, and I could not 
follow them. We went to the hall and found some 
seventy persons present. As soon as we entered some 
one proposed to organize the meeting by calling me to 
the chair, which I promptly declined; they soon found 
another to take the chair, who stated that the object 
of the meeting was to form a Johnson and Swann club 
of the sixth ward and proposed that a committee be 
appointed to recommend permanent officers for the 
club. I was named as one of them, but I again de- 
clined, when several present insisted on my reasons 
for declining to take any action in the proceedings. 
I told them that I had once read of a rat that 
went to the top of a meal barrel and looked down 



—234— 

into, and saw plenty of good meal at the bot- 
tom, but at the same time saw a large lump 
in the centre of the pile of meal ; he sat there looking 
at the meal, wishing for some of it, but what does that 
lump mean in the centre of the barrel, who knows 
but that is a cat covered up there, if it is, and I go 
down to get some meal, the cat will get me, so I 
think that I had better stay out. That is my case 
said I, it may all be right, but I think that I can 
see a cat in the meal tub and therefore think that I 
had better stay out. 

What do you mean said the President by such talk' 
Oh nothing particular said I, but I don't like cats, 
this raised quite a laugh. When the business of the 
meeting was concluded, (every man in the house ex- 
cept myself signed the constitution) they took a col- 
lection to pay the rent of hall (which was one dollar 
and fifty cents). I told them that as I was the only 
officeholder in the house who had a good salary, I 
would pay their rent for them that night, and they 
could keep what they had raised by their collection 
for other expenses ; this seemed to please them very 
much, but still they insisted on me to give them my 
reasons for not joining the club. The only reason 
that I would give them was, that I had concluded 
to wait a while to see whether it was all meal that I 
saw in the barrel or whether a cat was really there, 
as I had really suspected ; if it should all prove to be 
meal that I saw in the barrel and no cat found among 
it, then I would take part with them, but not until 
then. 

The next Thursday night they had another meeting 
when a number more joined the club. They called on 
me for a speech but I declined telling them that I had 
come there to listen and not to speak. Some of their 
new recruits I noticed were or had been rebels. They 
had some speaking that night by some of their local 
speakers, but none of any account ; everything passed 



—235— 

off very quietly, but I left with my mind fully made 
up that Johuson and Swan had forever left the Re- 
publican party and had sold out to the enemy. 

The morning of the next meeting there were notices 
in all the papers that there was to be a grand rally of 
the sixth ward Johnson and Swann club, and that able 
speakers would address the meeting. I concluded to 
go and hear them, but to my surprise when I got there 
I found not only the hall and stairway full, but hun- 
dreds in the street. I thought this meant something ; 
I therefore worked my way up stairs and into the 
room when I found it crowded with all the leading 
Democrats of the ward. They very soon proposed to 
organize the sixth w^ard Johnson and Swann club by 
electing a certain Democrat to be President. The re- 
gular President being in his chair declared the motion 
out of order as the club was already organized and the 
President in his chair ; but they paid no attention to 
him and put the vote and elected their man. They 
ousted the rightful President and went to work. I 
turned to the old President and said dont you see the 
cat in the meal tub now ? The most of the old mem- 
bers who had joined the club left as fast as they could 
get out of the hall, myself with them, and as far as I 
was concerned, that was the last Johnson and Swann 
meeting I ever attended. 

Many of my friends thought it advisable for me as 
well as themselves to attend those meetings and appear 
to take some interest in them in order to keep our pla- 
ces, for if we were turned out some rebel would get 
our place. I'his I refused to do from the fact that I 
had never forsaken my first principles nor I never in- 
tended to do for the sake of a petty office under the 
government. 

Things went on in the usual way until Thos. Swann 
appointed his registers who were to turn the State over 
into the hands of the rebels ; this was done in the 
Summer of 1866. There was to be a Governor and 



—286— 

Congressmen elected that Fall and Judge Bond was 
to be the Republican candidate for Governor and John 
L. Thomas for Congress in my district. The Johnson 
men threw out the hint, that every man in the Custom 
House who voted the radical ticket would be turned 
out the next day. My friends advised me not to vote 
at all ; many said that they would not go to the polls, 
but I was determined to die game, so on the morning 
of election I was the first man at the window ready to 
vote when the time arrived to receive votes. I found 
a man there to watch me, so in order that he might 
make no mistake, I opened my ticket and showed it to 
him, saying as I did so, you see that it is the genuine 
radical Republican ticket, go tell your master that I 
showed it to you, and without another word I walked 
away. 

There was but one thing that saved me from being 
turned out, it was this : a few weeks before this, a ship 
arrived at quarantine with some fifty small-pox passen- 
gers on it ; there was no law to compel an officer to 
board such a vessel, (although humanity did) and it 
was necessary for one to go, in order to separate the 
healthy from the sick ; they could not go ashore with- 
out an officer, and the question was, who would volun- 
teer to go. There were ten men waiting orders but 
none of them were willing to risk their lives. I had 
a ship in charge at the time, but the Collector sent for 
me and asked me if I was willing to board that ship 
and discharge the passengers and their baggage. He 
said that it would be a humane act to do it. I agreed 
to go and did go and never left the ship until the pas- 
sengers were all ashore at the hospital and the ship 
completely fumigated and hauled up to her dock. So 
when the demand was made for my removal a few days 
after the election the Collector sent for me and told me 
that for my humane act in boarding that ship at a 
time when no other officer could be induced to go, he 
should not trouble me about the way I had voted ; so 



—237— 

I slipped through that time, but sereral others were 
removed. 

But still these villaiaous rebels were determined to 
follow me up aud get me out, but found that they 
would have to chaijg3 their programme. They next 
made their attack from Washington. They reported 
there that there were a number of officers unnescessa- 
rily employed in the Custom House and finally got one 
of Johnson's [iimps sent over to investigate the matter ; 
he of course vras toasted and fed on the best, by the 
tools of Johnson in the Custom House, and without 
even calling to see if men were attentive to their busi- 
ness or not, he goes back to Washington and reported 
that myself and two or three others were of no account 
to the government, for when we had a ship in charge, 
we were never on it, but running about town drinking 
and neglecting our business. This charge they sup- 
posed we would be unprepared to meet, as there would 
be a peremptory order from the Secretary to the Collec- 
tor to dismiss us without giving him a reason for it. — 
But in this they failed ; Judge Sargent, the Commis- 
sioner of Customs had the case to investigate, he was 
my friend, and at once sent me a copy of the charges 
and gave me a chance to disprove them. 

I went to the Collector and showed him the charges 
when he at once told me that I should have leave of 
absence to fight it out with them ; he said that he was 
satisfied that it was false, and for me to go ahead until 
I proved it so. I went immediately to all the large 
shipping houses that I had unloaded vessels for, and 
showed them the charges against me, when every firm 
including the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Company officers 
Spence & Reid, Kirkland, Chase & Co., F. W. Brune 
and Sons and many others signed a denial of all the 
charges brought against me, and also a remonstrance 
against my being removed, giving as a reason why 
they wanted me retained, that I was the most prompt 
and accommodating officer they ever had to transact 



—238— 

business for them. When I had got through with my 
testimony I went to the Collector and showed him all 
my papers, which pleased him very much ; he was 
glad I was so well fortified, and told me to take them 
direct to Washington, and give them to the Secretary 
in person, and I would find it all right. The next 
morning I put off with my bundle of documents, and 
in due time laid ihem before the Commissioner of 
Customs, who went with me to the Secretary, and laid 
my papers before him. The Secretary told us that they 
were unnecessary as he had just finished reading a 
letter from one of the largest importers of Baltimore, 
which satisfied him that the charges against me were 
false, but to accommodate me he would look over my 
papers, which he did, and then turned to me and said, 
go home and go to work, and as long as you perform 
your duties as you have done, you shant be put out of 
your place ; I thanked him for his good opinion of me 
and left with flying colors. 

On my return home I went to the Collector and 
told him all that had been said and done ; he congrat- 
ulated me on my success, and told me to attend well 
to ray business, that I should not be disturbed. Mr. 
"Webster the Collector was a true friend of mine, and 
although he had sold out body and breeches to John- 
son and Swann, I shall ever feel grateful for his many 
kind acts to me, and at no period in my life will I 
prove ungrateful to him, should he need my services. 
He is a high toned gentleman, that would not stoop 
to an unmanly trick, at least I have always found 
him such. 

After I had whipped them out at this last game of 
theirs, they concluded to let me alone for a while, but 
continued to work on the Collector to have me remov- 
ed. The messenger at the Collector's door kept me 
posted about what was going on, I was therefore pre- 
pared at all times to meet all charges that might be 
brought against me. The Collector in order to get rid 



—239— 

of their teazing him about me, told them that if they 
could catch me away from my vessel in working hours, 
sitting about a drinking saloon, he would turn me out. 
So that night they met at their club room and ar- 
ranged a plan to trap me. Four of them were to come 
to my ship and pretend that two men from the coun- 
try who had known me when a boy, were around the 
corner at an oyster saloon, and wished me to step 
around for a few moments and take a plate of oysters 
and a drink with them, and would be much disap- 
pointed if I did not come. But I had been posted by 
the messenger, who was present in the club room 
when the plot was laid. He had come to my house 
at midnight and notified me about their plan, so I 
was ready for them when they came, and told them 
that I always made it a rule after I unlocked my ship 
in the morning never to leave it until I locked it at 
night. If my friends wished to see me, they must 
come on board the ship, or wait about an hour, when 
it would be closing time, then I should be very happy 
to see them. They tried every plan they could think 
of, but it was no go. I knew what I was about, so 
they had to go away with a flea in their ear, and I had 
the satisfaction of knowing that I had beat them in 
this last eff'ort to oust me. 

Mr. Webster one day sent for me and told me it 
was his desire, that I should keep quiet and not abuse 
the President or Gov. Swann. Just let them alone and 
say nothing about them, that I could enjoy my own 
opinion without saying any thing about it, as the 
more I said the greater the opposition would be against 
me. I therefore concluded that it was best for me to 
take his advice, which I did, until Johnson and Swann 
undertook to send the United States troops here to 
forcibly eject the police commissioners out of office; 
this I saw was a high handed measure, one that was 
likely to bring on another bloody war, at least in Bal- 
timore that might have spread all over the whole 



—240— 

country. This I openly denounced, it was impossible 
for me to keep still, and I would here remark if it 
had not been for General Grant who was at the head 
of the army, coming to Baltimore and putting a stop 
to it when he did, God only knows how much blood 
they would have caused to be shed, but thanks to our 
noble General, he was the right man in the right 
place, came boldly forward and finished this job as he 
has done all others he ever undertook ; promptly 
without saying much about it, as he don't talk much, 
but shows what he is by his acts. After this trouble 
quieted down things went on in their usual way, I 
said but little, kept very quiet and attended to my 
business, until about the first of January 1868, when 
they began to talk about assessing the men for politi- 
cal purposes. There was to be an election in New 
Hampshire in March, which would be the opening of 
the campaign of that year. Both parties were de- 
termined to carry it, and for this purpose we were to 
be assessed to help carry it for the Democratic party. 
I knew all about it in January but said nothing to 
any person but my true friends, but was determined 
not to pay a cent for that purpose. They had given 
out the word that whoever refused to pay their assess- 
ment would be turned out of office, the result was, 
all except myself, Ishmael Day and D. R. Mumma did 
pay it, and I am very sorry to say it, but it is true, 
that many of those who did pay their money to de- 
feat Grant in '68, are holding good offices under him 
to day, while many who refused to pay are walking 
about, unable to get a place under the Government, 
but so the world goes, the greater the weather cock 
the better the luck. 

They collected nearly all their assessments before 
they called on me, for they knew that I would refuse 
to pay, so they left me to the last, and when they did 
come they went away with a flea in their ear. I told 
them that I would give twenty dollars instead of ten, 



—241— 

but I wanted it used my way, one dollar for a rope 
and the other nineteen to pay a man for hanging the 
traitorous villain Andrew Johnson. The young man 
who called on me said, that if I talked that way I 
would be kicked out of office before the next night, 
when I told him he had better keep quiet or I would 
kick ^hitn out of my office now, for I was a man of 
principle, and did not allow him nor the President or 
any other man to insult me in my office, and so far as 
paying money to aid the Democratic party was con- 
cerned I had been fighting them too long for that, 
and had lived before I got an office and could live 
after I got out. 

As soon as the young man left I sat down to think 
the matter over, I had always been true to my prin- 
ciples, had never for one moment deviated from them 
and now should I pay tribute to such a scoundrel as 
Andrew Johnson, no never, my mind was made up in 
a minute, I would resign and in place of sending 
money to New Hampshire, I would go there and stump 
the State, so I sat down and wrote my resignation and 
handed it in, and bid farewell to Andy and his office 
and put for Washington and got some letters of in- 
troduction and left for New Hampshire. 




ni 



CHAPTER Xir. 

STUMPING NEW HAiMPSHIRE AND CONNECTICUT. — 

"hunting JOHN MCDANIELS BLACKSMITH SHOP." 

— GREAT ENTHUSIASM, HANDSHAKING, 

ETC. "the NEW HAVEN REGISTER." 

I T WAS on the 6th day of February that I resigned 
Xand went to Washington, and that night at 9 o'clock 
I left for New York on my way to New Hampshire, 
although it was one of the coldest nights I ever felt, 
and I was going to a State that I had never visited be* 
lore ; I started as cheerful as if I was a boy, and had 
a gay ride that night to New York, and by six o'clock 
the next evening was in Nashua the first city in the 
State, just beyond the Massachusetts line. I inquired 
for a Republican Hotel, where I was saftely landed in 
a few minutes by the accomodating hackman of that 
house, which I found to be one the best kept hotels 
that I had ever visited ; upon going to the office to 
register my name I inquired if there were any live 
Republicans in that place, when the landlord, who 
was behind the counter, said, I am a live Republican 
and there are plenty more of them at the tea table, 
walk in and take your tea, and I will introduce you 
to plenty of them when you are done your supper. 



—243— 

I went in, took my supper and when I returned to 
the sittingroom, I found a score of gentlemen waiting 
for an introduction to me; the landlord immediatly 
came forward and introduced me personally to each 
one of them, when we entered into a very pleasant 
conversation. They asked maoy questions about the 
people and their views in the South and what motives 
I had in coming to that country at that inclement 
season of the year, for it was about the coldest night 
that I had ever felt. 

I told them all about the assessment to raise money 
to help carry their Slate for the Democratic ticket, and 
my refusing to pay for that purpose, which was the 
cause of my coming there, for the purpose, of 
undoing all that the money they were sending would 
do. I intended to go all over the State and talk to 
the people if they were disposed to hear me, which I 
had no doubt they would. They said they were going 
to have a little meeting that night, and I should go 
along with them to it which I did ; they took me up 
into a room and told me this was a secret Grant |club 
that they were attending, but that I should be admit- 
ted as a member, which I was in a few minutes after- 
wards. As soon as they were through their private 
business I was called on for a few remarks, when I 
arose and said: Mr. President, I have read in the good 
book that the whole need not a physican, only those 
who are sick ; I presume sir, that not many of those 
present are in a very unhealthy condition at this time, 
particularly if they passed through the same ordeal 
that I did in getting in here ; this raised a great laugh 
when the President said, that was speech enough for 
this night, we are satisfied that you can do it, we will 
give you a meeting to-morrow night, one that you 
will be satisfied with. The meeting was at once ad- 
journed and I was received with a hearty welcome by 
all present. 

The next morning I found the town filled with large 



placards calling on all working men to rally at the 
City Hall that night, to hear the Baltimore Black- 
smith, a loyal southern mechanic, make a speech ; I 
was taken during the day all around the city to the 
leading workshops and introduced to all the workmen 
in them, so that by night I had become pretty well 
acquainted with the people. When night came I was 
escorted to the hall by a committee of Blacksmiths, 
and found the hall so packed with people that we had 
to get through the back window to get to the stand, 
and found it packed also. I found all of the elite of 
the city there, both ladies and gentlemen, so that 
there was scarcely room for me to stand. I was intro- 
duced, and began by saying, that this was one of the 
proudest nights of my life, coming as I did among 
them an entire stranger, to meet such an audience as 
I now saw before me, was very gratifying. But while 
I feel gratified at this very flattering reception that I 
meet here to-night, I fear that I shall not be able to 
meet your expectations, for as you perceive, I am a 
plain working man, raised in the South without the 
advantages of even a common school education, I 
therefore know but little about big words that some of 
our speakers use, in fact I only know four or five of 
those big words, and I hardly ever undertake to climb 
up them very high, for fear I might have some difli- 
culty in getting down again, so I usually let what few 
I do know alone, (great laughter) and content myself 
with speaking in a plain matter-of-fact way. 

"What is it ladies and gentlemen which is dividing 
the two great political parties at this time ; what are 
the principles laid down by the great Democratic 
party, do any of you know, can any gentleman in 
this house tell me, if there is, I will thank him to raise 
right up and tell us, for I am free to say that I have 
been for forty years trying to find out, and have never 
been able to find any other principle in them,, but to 
love whiskey and hate niggers (loud applause). Hunt- 



—245— 

ing Democratic principles put me in mind of when I 
lived in Ohio ; I wanted to find a certain Blacksmith 
to work for me, and startsd to hunt him up ; after go- 
ing some distance across the country, I came across 
a hoy chopping wood by the road side and asked him 
if he couid tell me the road to John McDaniels Black- 
smith shop ; he looked up and said certainly I can, 
keep down this road till you come to a fence on your 
left hand, take up that fence to the left until you 
come to the top of a hill, then take to the right down 
through the woods till you come to a small creek with 
a log laying across it, cross the creek and turn up to 
the right until you come to another fence, take the 
left hand end of the fence and follow it till you come 
to where three fences join together, you then follow 
the right hand fence until you come to the top of ano- 
ther hill, turn to the left and go down the hill until 
you come to another little creek with a pine slab lay- 
ing across it, cross the slab and you will see three syca- 
more trees growing up out of one stump, there turn to 
the right and keep up the hill till you come to the 
top of it, and here he stopped as if studying the bal- 
ance of the road, when I said, well which way then my 
boy ? Oh, said he looking archly, I guess you will be 
lost about then, for that is as far as I know the road. 
And that would be the way with finding out what 
Democratic principles were ; this raised a loud roar of 
laughter. I then commenced and showed them the 
great advantage the South had held over the North 
in the representation in Congress by counting a por- 
tion of their slaves as free citizens, and the great ne- 
cessity there was to enfranchise the colored voters of 
the South in order to protect the North, for as the 
negroes were now free they w^ould all be counted in 
the houses of representation, which would give the 
South over forty members in Congress after 1870, that 
they would not be entitled to, without enfranchising 
all the people. I then showed what the Republican 



—246— 

party had done since they came into power, and how 
the Democratic party had tried every way they could 
to prevent us from raising men and means to put 
down the rebellion, and to prevent us from reconstruct- 
ing the Southern States in a satisfactory manner, and 
now they have the hardihood to look an honest man 
in the face and ask him to put them in the control 
of this great country that they had used every power 
at their command to destroy. I as one individual 
beg leave to say no. Suppose ladies and gentlemen 
that you would find a man trying to destroy your 
house when you go home to night, and in conquering 
him you lost several of your family killed and woun- 
ded, and after you had succeeded in overcoming him 
you let him go without punishing him, would you be 
willing to employ him to watch your house for you 
after that, or would you not rather employ one of your 
friends who assisted you in saving your property? 
You will all say that you would employ your friend 
and not your enemy, that would seem natural. I 
will now put the question and I want some Democrat 
to answer it ; was there one man in that rebellion who 
assisted in trying to destroy this country, or one man 
that fired a gun at a Union soldier or who ever dragged 
our flag in the dust, who was not at the time he did it a 
professed Democrat? I pause for an answer, come sing 
it out, if you know of even one that was not. I'here 
being no answer, I said how can they have the impu- 
dence then to ask you to trust them with the reigns of 
government, why give them the reigns of this great 
country in their hands, they would be like a beggar 
on horseback, they would ride it to the devil in a 
short time. This caused the wildest outburts of laugh- 
ter. I finally at the end of two hours closed my re- 
marks by stating that if the people disired it, I would 
speak for them until the election. As soon as I closed 
the people crowded around me, shook hands with me, 
and introduced me to some ten committees who had 



—247— 

come from various cities of the State to hear me. They 
had gotten up this meeting to try me, to see if I would 
suit the people of their country, hence these commit- 
tees had been sent for. I had more than met their 
expectations so much so, that before I left the hall 
that night, they had made fourteen appointments for 
me in various parts of the State, and I commenced the 
next night to fill them. I spoke at Milford the next 
night and then went to Manchester, the largest city in 
the State, and the greatest manufacturing city also. 
There they had the largest hall in the State, it would 
hold six thousand people. The meeting was called 
for working men, but the hall was packed by all clas- 
ses; we had a boss blacksmith for chairman, who intro- 
duced me in good style, and here I made a two hours 
speech but half of the people failed to get in and were 
determined to hear me, and as I had no meeting for 
the next night, I agreed to come back from the place 
I was to speak the next afternoon, and speak for them 
in their hall again at night. I had made my speech 
and had agreed to speak for them agina, but how to 
get out of that hall that night, was what bothered me, 
for everbody must shake hands with me, and I was 
afraid that they would kill me with kindness. Gover- 
nor Smythe said, that no man had ever pleased their 
people as well as I had done, they seemed fairly wild, 
so much so that a large number of them went with me 
the next day, so as to be certain of getting me back 
that night. I went to my appointment where I met a 
large crowd and made them a very satisfactory speech 
and at the close of my speech a vote of thanks and a 
ten dollar bill to help pay my expenses vias given to 
me, and after a little handshaking I returned with my 
friends to the city in time for tea, well pleased with my 
reception that day in a country place. 

Our meeting was called for eight o'clock, but at 
six the Governor called at the hotel and told me that 
the hall was packed full of ladies, and I might just as 



—248— 

well go over and begin then, as to keep the people 
waiting, for all was in the hall already that could 
get in. So I went over and found it true, there 
were not less than four thousand ladies seated ; this 
hall had a private way leading to the stand, so that 
I had no trouble in getting to it. I was introduced 
that night by Ex-Governor Smythe, who done it in 
a fine style, making some happy allusions to the la- 
dies. I began my speech by thanking the people 
for the many flattering receptions that I had met 
with since I had come among them, and said that 
I was at a loss to know what had caused my great 
popularity among the people, it was not my eloquence 
or fine speaking that caused it, for I was an un- 
educated man, and if it was not my good looks, I 
could not tell what it was. This of course started 
them roaring for several minutes, finally when order 
was restored I commenced to speak on the impor- 
tance of the coming election ; I told them that the 
eyes of every friend of Freedom and free Institu- 
tions was turned to New Hampshire, as she was the 
State that was to start the ball in the present cam- 
paign. I urged the necessity of standing by the 
party that saved the country, as the only party that 
had a right to rule it. I appealed to the ladies to 
give us their influence in this campaign as they had 
done during the war ; I told them some pleasant 
things about female influence and then closed my 
speech. 

The Governor came forward and said that it was 
the desire of the ladies that I should stand at the door 
as they passed out, to give them a chance to shake 
hands with me, and that many of them desired my 
photograph before I left. I told them that they 
should be gratified, for it had always been pleasing to 
me to take a handsome lady by the hand, and if they 
were not afraid to get in the hands of a Bear, I was 
not afraid to get into their hands ; this caused a loud 
laugh. 



-249— 

I was taken around to the front door and stood m tlie 
centre, while the great mass of people passed on each 
side of me, each one as they passed, giving me a shake 
of the hand or arm, six or eight hold of each hand 
and arm at one time, so by the time that they had all 
passed I was nearly shaken to pieces. This was one 
of the most glorious nights I ever passed, and one that 
I never shall forget. The next morning I went to a 
photograph gallery and set for a card picture, and be- 
fore I left the gallery there were over thirty applicants 
for a copy of it, and I was informed afterwards, that 
the firm had copied and sold over a thousand of them 
in ten days. I left Manchester with much regret, for 
a more pleasant or agreeable set of people I never met, 
nor shall I ever forget them. 

I continued filling my appointments, until I arrived 
in Portsmouth, the only importing city in the State, 
here I met with a glorious reception ; here they had 
a navy yard which was pretty well filled with John- 
son Democrats. I took occasion to pitch into them, 
charging them with treason and causing hundreds of 
murders that had been committed in the South since 
he had been President, winding up with Tom Moore's 
curse on a traitor, which is as follows : 

Cursed be the slave, whose treason like a deadly blight, 

Steals oe'r the councils of the brave and blasts them in their hour 

of might. 
May life's unblessed cup for him be dregs with treacheries to the 

,brim, 
With hopes that but alure to fly, 
And when from earth his spirit flies, 
Just prophet let the doomed one dwell, 
Full in the sight of paradise, 
Beholding heaven, yet feeling hell. 

This caused considerable shuffling in the crowd, the 
Republicans cheered and the other side looked dag- 
gers at me but kept pretty quiet. I left with flying 
colors for my next meeting, with the best wishes of all 
of the friends of Grant and the Kepublicun party. I 



—250— 

continued to speak from place to place, with unbounded 
popularity until Monday the day before the election, 
when I was to close the campaign in Nashua, the 
place where I began to speak. I was received with 
open arms by ray friends and had a monster meeting. 
I made a long speech and closed by thanking the 
people for the kind treatment that I met with, while 
sojourning among them. I had made forty-two long 
speeches in twenty four days and was about to leave 
them, possibly never to meet again, but I shall never 
forget New Hampshire. 

As soon as the meeting was over I w^as met by a 
committee of ladies and gentlemen, who presented 
me with several nice presents, and a nice little roll of 
greenbacks, and after a general round of hand shaking 
and parting good byes, we parted, hoping to meet again 
in Washington a year from that. The next morning 
I left for Connecticut, where I was to begin a cam- 
paign, and arrived at West Meridan about eight o'clock 
that night. 

When I arrived at the hotel, I found no person 
there except the landlady, who told me that all the 
gentlemen about the house had gone over to the hall 
to hear the great Blacksmith speak, but she feared he 
was not there, as he had not come in the Boston train. 
I asked her where the hall was, when she pointed it 
out to me; I went over and found it crowded, but work- 
ed my way to the stand, where I found Hon. Henry 
Wilson speaking; as soon as he saw me he said, here 
comes the Blacksmith, who you all want to hear. 

1 had made arrangements with the committee at 
Nashua to send me the result of the vote of their State 
at nine o'clock by telegraph. Mr. Wilson had just 
closed, and I had been introduced to the meeting, when 
some man cried out, here is a dispatch for the Black- 
smith; it was handed up to me, I opened it and after 
looking over it a moment, I turned to the audience and 
bowed very politely, saying how arc you Mrs. New 



—251— 

Hampshire, twenty-five hundred Kepublican majority 
and no mistake. This caused the wildest outburst of 
applause I ever witnessed, it was full five minutes be- 
fore order was restored; I had to read the dispatch over 
several times to satisfy the crowd, after which I made 
them one of my best speeches, which seemed to give 
entire satisikction. 

After the meeting was over a number of the leading 
men of the State, who were there attending a State con- 
vention with Mr. Wilson and myself, returned to the hotel 
where I had put up, when a handsome supper was pre- 
pared; we did ample justice to our appetites and then 
went to business. They proposed that I should take 
the hardest Democratic county in the State as my field 
of labor, promising to give me a good speaker to assist 
me, which thoy did. We had two days to rest in, to 
give the town committee time for to get our meetings 
ready fo r us. I went to New Haven to make a speech 
before starting up to my mountain district; here I met 
the dirtiest little paper that I had run against in the 
New England States, called the New Haven Register, 
He began his dirty slang at me before I came to the 
State, and continued it all the time I was there, I 
went in due time to my appointments where I stayed 
some three weeks, speaking day and night in my usual 
way, leaving each place with the good feelings of all 
good peopl\ 

The chairman of the State Committee had written 
to me that I was to close the campaign on Saturday 
before the election, at New Haven; he said it would be 
the largest meeting that ever was convened inside of 
a house in the State, for everybody wanted to hear me 
speak, so I must prepare myself for it. I went at the 
proper time and found one of the largest meetings that 
I had ever seen inside of a house; the fashion and 
beauty of the city were there, every spot that a human 
being could stand in was full. I was introduced to 
the meeting by Governor Buckingham, who told me 



—252— 

that the editor of the Register was there to take notes, 
Id company with several others. I concluded to quit 
even with him that night, so after speaking on various 
subjects for a while, I remarked that the Democrats 
were terribly frightened about negro equality, they had 
great fears that the two races would inter marry with 
each other, but I thought they were frightened without 
a cause. It was a matter of taste who we married; if 
a Democrat wished to marry a colored lady he could 
do so, if he could get one, but I would advise them not 
to come to Maryland for one, as our colored women 
were to sharp there to marry a Copperhead, but in 
order to quiet their fears on that subject if I were in 
your next Legislature I would introduce a bill like 
this, that if any colored lady shall hereafter marry 
a white Copperhead, knowing him to be such at the 
time, she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
upon conviction before any court having jurisdiction 
of the same, shall be sentenced to read the Neiv Haven 
Begister through every morning before breakfast for 
one week, and I will bet my life that she never will be 
caught in such a scrape again. 

This almost tore the house down; they shouted with 
laughter; there were some dozen or more colored ladies 
sitting just to my left, in one seat, I turned to them and 
said, do any of you desire to marry the editor of the 
New Haven Register , if you do I suppose you can get 
him They all sung out ^ve don't want him ; this raised 
another great shout, which was too much for the editor, 
be raised up and left, and as he went I sung out, you 
have frightened him off ladies, he is going to try his 
luck in some other quarter, he sees that he has no 
chance here» There was but little more speaking done 
that night, the people all rushed around me with their 
congratulations in so putting down the Register man, 
that I hardly had time to get ready for the train that 
left at twelve o'clock that night, in which I was going 
home. I got off however and arrived in New York the 



—253— 

next morning, spent the day there in company ^ith 
Governor Curtin and other speakers who had been 
speaking in Connecticut, On that night I left for Bal- 
timore, where I arrived in safety on Monday morning. 




CHAPTEB XIIL 

CHICAGO CONVENTION — SPEAKING IN INDIANA — I'lL 
BET FIFTY DOLLARS HE IS THE BUCKEYE 
BLACKSMITH — TOOK DOWN THE COPPER- 
HEAD MILLIGAN OF MORGAn's RAID 
NOTORETY — SPEAKING IN MAINE 
PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW 
JERSEY. 

ISPEHT a few days at home and then started to 
make my way to Chicago, to attend the National 
Convention in May, that was to nominate General 
Grant for President. 1 went- direct to Indiana and 
commenced speaking throughout the State, whenever 
I could get up a meeting. I had never been in that 
State before as a speaker, and it was more difficult to 
get up a meeting on that account, but I had too much 
experience in politics, to be beat when I undertook to 
get up a good meeting. I took a new plan with the 
Indiana boys, I secured a place in which to speak, 
then got my own bills printed, heading them with 
War I War ! War 1 one thousand volunteers wanted 
immediately, not to fight Jeff. Davis, but to hear a 
genuine live Southern Republican make a speech to- 
night, at (naming the place of meeting.) 



—255— 

This being a novel plan of advertising, it took well 
every body was wondering who and where the man 
was, none of them suspected me, for I looked too com- 
mon. When night came I waited until the crowd 
gathered and it was a big one, all looking anxiously 
for the speaker, there being no name attached to the 
bills they did not know who to call for. At last I 
stepped on the stand and said : gentlemen you seem 
to be waiting for your speaker, did any of you ever 
see an orange that grew in Ireland, if you never have 
you never will, for there never was one that growed 
there, this raised a big laugh ; let me ask you another 
question, did you ever see a real live Southern Repub- 
lican, if you have not, look at me, for I am one dyed 
in the wool, here was another laugh. I told you so, 
said one to another, I thought he was the man. 

I then took my coat off and commenced rolling up 
my sleeves, when an old fellow sung out "I'll bet fifty 
dollars that's the Buckeye Blacksmith, I saw him do 
that same thing thirty years ago." Not so fast my 
friend said I, you are making me too old, remember 
there are ladies here, and they don't like old men, 
this caused another laugh. By this time I was ready 
to speak, and commenced and spoke for near two 
hours, in my most happy style, causing the wildest 
outbursts of applause; when I closed I found many 
warm friends around me. I had pleased them so well 
that they not only paid my bill at the hotel and re- 
funded me what I had paid for my bills, but tele- 
graphed to several other towns for meetings for me 
and took me in a carriage to my next meeting, send- 
ing two of their best citizens along to introduce me 
to the people where I was to speak. 

I had no more difficulty in getting up meetings 
after that, but had more invitations than I could at- 
tend to. I met many very bitter Copperheads in 
that region; at a town called Anderson, I came across 
that celebrated Milligan who was sentenced to be hung 



—256— 

for being accessory to the murder of several citizens 
who were killed by John Morgan while making his 
great raid through that country, but was pardoned by 
Mr. Lincoln through the intercession of Gov. Morton. 
This Milligan sneered at some favorable remark that 
I made about Gov. Morton, when I told him he was 
the last man on earth that ought to sneer, for said I 
if it had not have been for that good kind hearted 
man, you would be rotten in your grave to-night with 
six foot of hemp around your neck ; he jumped up 
and said he would thank me to tell him who had 
given me so much information. I got it from the rec- 
ords of the war department, said I, and was mad 
enough when I saw it, at Lincoln and Morton to have 
cursed them for interfering in the case. They ought 
to have hnng every man that had any hand in pion- 
eering Morgan and his men through the country. I 
lived in the South and know what I say is true, that 
you and such men as you prolonged that war for more 
than two years, and there are more than three hun- 
dred thousand men now in their graves useless to them- 
selves and the country, that would to-night be at 
home with their families, if such men as you had been 
hung when you ought to have been. 

Yet you have the hardihood in the face of all these 
facts to set up and sneer when a great and good man's 
name is mentioned. You ought to thank God three 
times a day for the balance of your life, that I was 
not President at that time, for had I been, I would 
have made hemp command a better price than it does 
now, I would have hung as high as Haman, every 
man North or South that ever raised his arm or voice 
against the flag of my country. God bless that old 
flag, I love it dearly, and she still floats over the land 
of the free and the home of the brave in spite of you 
and John Morgan and all your hellish crew. This 
was more than he could stand, so he left amidst the 
roars and laughter of nearly all present; this was a 



—257— 

gay old night for me, and I left there a very popular 
man. 

I continued to speak until I got to Logansport, 
where I made my last speech before going to the con- 
vention, which was on Saturday night, after which I 
took the train for Chicago, arriving there the next 
morning. I stayed in Chicago until the nominations 
were made and then left for home to rest awhile. 
After I had rested a week or two, I started for the 
Northern tier of counties in Pen;isylvania, where I 
travelled from town to town laboring day and night, 
until July, and was then taken sick and had to come 
home; many days while up in that mountain country 
I had but one meal to eat a day, for the want of 
money to buy more. I hated to make my situation 
known, the ^people being strangers to me, at last I 
worked my way to where I was known, when I fared 
better. Had I told the people my situation they no 
doubt would have provided well for me ; as it was I 
felt satisfied that I was doing my duty to my party 
and also the country, it was not money that I had in 
view, but a fixed desire to aid Grant's election. I ar- 
rived home about the middle of July, quite sick, and 
remained there until the first of August, when I got 
well again, and concluded to go to the State of Maine, 
where they had just opened up a very lively campaign. 

I left Baltimore on the night of the first of August 
and went direct through to Portland, Maine, without 
stopping, arriving there the second day after. I left 
the cars, carpet bag in hand, for the City Hotel, but 
had not gone far when I met a man who said, aint 
this Mr. Bear of Baltimore ? I looked at him and at 
once recognised him as the master of a ship, that I 
had discharged some years before. He askedme where 
I was going, and I told him my business, when he 
said that I had come at the right time, for they were 
going to have a great meeting there that night, and 
wanted all the speakers they could get. I am a Dem- 



—258— 

ocrat said he, but that don't make any difference, you 
must go home with me and stay at my house, and I 
will go with you and introduce you to some of the 
leading men of your party. I went with him and 
made his house my home while I remained in that 
part of the State, and made a good Republican out of 
him at that. 

The captain took me around that afternoon and in- 
troduced me to the leading men of our party, they 
having heard of* me while in New Hampshire the 
winter before were much pleased to have me visit 
their State, and said that they had plenty of work 
for me, that they needed me very much that night. I 
went to their great City Hall, and found as many out- 
side as there were inside, all clamoring for a speech. I 
went in and found a gentleman speaking to a packed 
house. In a few minutes a committee came to me and 
asked me if I could speak in the open air, if I could 
there were more people outside than inside, and I had 
bettei be sent out there. I went and in five minutes I 
had them roaring, they cheerfed so loud and often that 
the crowd in the house heard it and began to leave by 
hundreds, and the committee had to stop me, until the 
other gentleman was through, when the meeting was 
adjourned to the street where all could hear me, wheu 
] finished my speech, (and if I ever made a good one 
I made it that night. I told all my good anecdotes with 
good oflTect, and after we were through I was made the 
Lion, in the place of the Bear, that night. The com- 
mittee made a series of appointments for me, through 
the mountain regions of the first congressional district, 
where I went after speaking a few days in the neigh- 
borhood of Portland. I had a pretty tough time of it 
while travelling among the mountains, owing to more 
ignorance among the people than I had found in the 
Eastern States. I had a fine young speaker with me, 
he done the smooth talking and I done the rough, but 
we got through all safe, without the loss of a man, or 



—359— 

a drop of blood, we returned to Portland to make the 
closing speech of the conipaign, which was on Saturday 
before the election on Monday. I spoke to two very- 
large meetings where I bid them a final farewell, and 
left for Pennsylvania on Monday morning, arriving in 
Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon just in time to at- 
tend their great mass meeting that night. I went to 
the telegraph office, where I expected a dispatch, giv- 
ing me the result of my labors; I found one awaiting 
me with the glorious news that we had crrried, not only 
the first, but every district in the State, this was glory 
enough for one day. 

I went to the great meeting on Broad street, where 
they had several stands erected; it was arranged for me 
to speak on the main stand first, in order to draw the 
crowd together. I commenced by telling them that 
as I came there I passed a crowd of Democrats who 
had just heard the news from Maine, singing that good 
old hymn, "Hark from the tombs a doleful sound," but 
they had altered it, they sang : 

" Hark foom Maine a doleful sound, 
Mine ears attend the cry, 
Ye Democrats come view the ground, 
Where you must shortly lie." 

This raised a great roar of laughter, and as they finish- 
ed that verse a sound came up from Maine to the 
Pennsylvania Democrats in answer to their song: 

Rebels this clay must be your bed, 
In spite of all your towers, 
The Copperheads throughout the land 
Must lay as low as ours. 

this was all that it was necessary for me to say, I had 
filled the crowd as full as they could hold, and then 
left the stand, but remarked as I done so, gentlemen 
if we do our duty in Pennsylvania this Fall, you will 
hear our Copperheads singing about the fourth of No- 
vember next, 

Plunged in a gulf of deep despair, 

We wretched sinners lay. 



I then bowed and left for the next stand, amid the ' 
shouts and laughter of ten thousand people. I mount- 
the next stand and went over the same thing, and in 
five minutes had another crowd roaring; I then pass- 
ed to the next stand, and done the same thing over 
again, and so on, until I had gotten up a good meet- 
at all the stands. I received great credit from many 
of the leading Republicans of the State, for the man- 
ner in which I drew the people together at the various 
stands that night, all declared that the "Buckeye' 
was ahead in getting up a crowd. 

I rested the next day, and then made arrangements 
with the State committee to canvass the State for them; 
they knew that I was coming and made a number of 
appointments for me, the first one, at Ohambersburg 
in Franklin County, near two hundred miles West of 
Philadelphia. I was to stay in that county a week, 
when they would have other appointments ready for 
me. I left Philadelphia on Monday morning and ar- 
rived in Ohambersburg that afternoon in time to speak 
to a very large meeting. I had to do all the speaking 
myself, as the other speaker who w^as to assist me fail- 
ed to get there. As soon as I was done speaking the 
chairman of the County committee handed me a dis- 
patch directing me in place of filling five other ap- 
pointments in Franklin county, to report to him in 
person at all hazzards the next day by two o'clock, 
which I did by starting at two o'clock that night. It 
appeared that the State committee had made a mis- 
take in sending me to Franklin county, they having 
promised me to other meetings in a different part of 
the State, and for that reason I was recalled as above 
stated. 

Some ten days prior to the great mass meeting at 
Philadelphia, the Democrats of Montgomery county, 
called a meeting at a place calledthe Trappe one of their 
strong holds in the county, the Republicans called one 
in the same place on the following Tiiesday ; the two 



committees made a bet of an oyster supper for a hun- 
dred men, upon which party would have the largest 
meeting. I was very p )pular with the people through 
that region of country, it being the place where I had 
made so many Lincoln votes eight years before. The 
Republicans took advantage of my popularity, and 
sent bills all over three counties assuring the people 
that the Buckeye would certainly be there ; the Dem- 
ocrats denied, saying that I was not in the county but 
the Republicans sent out riders all over the country 
to tell the people that I was in Philadelphia and would 
certainly be there. 

When I arrived in Philadelphia the day of their 
meeting, I met their committee, who were greatly re- 
joiced that they would be able to fulfil their promise 
to have me there in time for their meeting. They said 
that they would have lost a hundred votes had I fail- 
ed to be there. We took the cars and in due time ar- 
rived at the Trappe, where I was met by several hun- 
ilred men and women who had already commenced ' 
pouring in by hundreds from distant sections of the 
country. I was nearly shaken to pieces by them, they 
Doing so glad to see me. 

By eight o'clock that night no person estimated the 
jrowd to be less than from six to eight thousand peo- 
3le, the Democrats had given it up long before we be- 
;an to speak. I was the first speaker and spoke one 
lour, telling the people as 1 closed that I had just 
)een informed, that several large delegations were still 
joraing, and that I would speak again, after two other 
ipeakers were done, so that all might hear me. This 
)leased them very much and I retired to take a little 
•est. 

At the close of the speech of the last gentleman 
;hat was to follow me, I was again introduced, this 
ime to more than eight thousand up turned faces, all 
mxious to see and hear the "Buckeye*" I told them 
hat I had reasons to feel proud to stand where I now 



—262— 

stood, looking as I now did into so many smiling faces. 
Many years ago I came among you as a mechanic, you 
placed confidence in me then as an honest man, and I 
feel proud tonight my fellow countrymen, that I can 
see in your smiling faces that I still have that confi- 
dence. What is it my friends that has brought so 
many of you here tonight from your quiet homes, 
many of you from a distance, it was not to see and 
hear me talk. No my friends you had a higher motive 
in view than that ; God has given you a great and 
glorious country for your inheritence, you have come 
here to show your devotion to that country. 

It is only a little over three years since the last 
enemy of this glorious country was compelled to 
lay down his arms and cease fighting to destroy it, 
and I have no doubt but that many of you were there 
under that sour apple tree, to witness their surren- 
der, and now the question is to be decided in a 
few weeks, who shall govern this glorious country 
of yours, the men that fought more than four years 
to destroy it, or the men that spent three thousand 
million of dollars, and three hundred thousand lives 
to save it. This is what has brought you here my 
friends, and I see very plainly by your looks to night 
which side you are on. Have patience my friends un- 
til the third of November, and you will have the 
glorious satisfaction of seeing this rebel Democracy 
not only surrendering their rebel beards to General 
Grant again, but you will see them buried so deep 
that it will take the resurection gun to awaken them 
again ; this caused long and loud applause, and finally 
at twelve o'clock I closed, never to forget that nights 
proceedings. 

It was one o'clock before the crowd got away, and 
I had to get a wagon to take me across the country, 
some twenty miles to intersect the Pennsylvania rail 
road, in order to reach my appointment the next night 
two hundred miles up the Susquehanna river ; I had 



—263— 

not slept a moment for two nights, but I was deter- 
mined to make it, and did do it, arriving just as the 
people began to gather at the stand ; I was taken to 
a hotel and got a harty supper and was already to 
speak, by the time the crowd had gathered. This 
was another monster meeting ; no other speaker being 
there I had to speak over two hours, which pretty 
nearly used me up, but I stood it. My speech that 
night had a good effect, as the election afterwards 
showed. 

I got a good nights sleep which refreshed me very 
much, and left next morning for Bloomsburg in Col- 
umbia county, where I was to speak at a mass meet- 
ing in the afternoon. Here I met Senator Cragan of 
New Hampshire, who was to speak with me ; this 
was Senator Buckalew's home and we had him to 
hear us. This was the place where seven hundred De- 
mocrats organized and equipped themselves to resist the 
draft in time of the war ; it was known as the fishing 
creek confederacy, which cost the government eighty 
thousand dollars to put it down, this was a good text 
for me. I was very popular in that county as a 
speaker, having often spoken there. I charged the 
Democrats with being the anti-war-party, which they 
could not deny in that county. I laid it on thick and 
hard that day, which pleased my friends very much. 
After the meeting was over I had to shake hands 
with thousands of the people ; one lady said I must 
sit down and take her daughter, a girl fifteen years 
old on my lap ; I done so, when she said, just here in 
this woods you took me on your lap when I was a 
little girl, and I hope you may live to come back and 
take my grand daughter on your lap when I get one. 
This pleased Messrs.Cragan and Buckalew who remark- 
ed that they never saw a more popular man among the 
people than I was. The reason why I was so popular 
with the people, I always after speaking went down 
{imong them in a friendly way, shaking hands with 



them in place of shutting myself up in a hotel parlor 
as most speakers do. 

That night I had to speak to a mass meeting at 
Northumberland where I arrived in time to get ray- 
supper and be the second speaker. Here I found 
another very large meeting ; all the old residents who 
had heard rae speak in 1840 of both parties were 
there, and the chairman of the meeting told me that 
he wanted me to make the best speech that night 
that I ever made, as I had all of the best men of the 
county there to hear me. When I was introduced I 
said that when I last had the pleasure of speaking in 
that place, ray o pponents stoned me, because I held 
an honest difference of opinion with them, but times 
have changed since then, we were at that time fight- 
ing for a principle, now we are fighting for our coun- 
try, and I hope all of this vabt crowd which I 
see before me are in favor of a united country, 
if they are, there would be none left to throw 
stones ; this took well with the crowd. I then went 
on to show that the Republicans while fighting the 
rebels in the front with the bayonet that they had to 
fight the Democratic party in the North, both in Con- 
gress and every State Legislature to raise men and 
means to put down the rebellion, winding up my 
speech with these words : In conclusion gentlemen 
let me say, if any man here to night can show me 
where one Democrat in Congress or any State Legis- 
lature in this Nation during the entire war ever cast 
one vote to aid in putting it down, I will stop speak- 
ing and agree that they have a right to rule the coun- 
try. This had a good effect, for they were like the 
man in the scripture, dumb and not able to open 
their mouth. 

The next day Senator Cragan and I had another 
monster meeting in Danville, Montour county, here 
also I was very popular, having at one time worked 
there taking pictures. The great Montour Iron works 



—265— 

are located here and employ a large number of hands 
who were all anxious to hear a mechanic speak ; here 
I took protection as my theme to speak upon, which 
the leaders of our party thought the best subject to 
agitate before the crowd that would hear me. I was 
at home on that subject, and gave entire satisfaction 
to all present and left the stand amidst the cheers of 
the people. 

As soon as I was done, a carriage stood waiting to 
convey me to another mass meeting that night, some 
twelve miles from Danville. Senator Cragan was 
unable to speak twice a day, therefore did not ac- 
company me. That night after speaking over an 
hour and a half my voice failed me and for the first 
time in my life I broke down before I was through 
my speech, but my friends rallied around me, and 
by the aid of a good sweat and a warm room, I rallied 
sufficently by morning to resume my travels. 

My next place was a large county meeting in Union 
county where I met the Hon. J. B. Packer the mem- 
ber of Congress from that district ; we had a fine time 
of it, many of the old farmers that had heard me 
years before were there, with their whole families to 
see the old "Buckeye", and to hear him make another 
speech, and many of them shed tears, when I made 
an allusion to the sacrifices that they had made to 
save the Union, as some had lost a son, a brother or 
some near friend in the war ; I never met a warmer 
reception in any place than I did there. 

I went the next day to Sealings grove, where I was 
to speak that night, and put up at a Democratic hotel 
there being no other in the place. I was soon told 
that I would have opposition that night, by a man 
who boarded at my hotel ; alright said I, that is just 
what I want, who is he, I should like to take a look 
at the fellow. He was pointed out to me by one of 
his friends ; is that him said I, well it wont take me 
ten minutes to set the whole crowd laughing when I 
♦12 



—266— 

begin on him, but don't say anything about it, or he 
will back out; let us have a little fun at his expense, 
said I. He promised to say nothing, but I knew he 
would, as he was a Democrat and a friend of the man 
who was to reply to me. / 

At the supper table a very important stuck-up- 
looking young fellow sitting opposite me said, Mr. Bear 
do you not have opposition sometimes in your meet- 
ings, dont some of the Democrats want to reply to 
you ? Sometimes said I, but not very often, those of 
them that can speak have more sense than to under- 
take it ; I sometimes meet with one that is green 
enough to undertake it, but he dont generally stay long 
in the town after he is done with me, particularly if 
there are many boys about, for you know that boys 
like to laugh at and tease people who are not very 
sharp. 

Night came on and with it a large crowd; they had a 
fine stand fixed up for me, and I was introduced and 
spoke for near two hours, winding up by saying, why 
don't the Democracy meet and tell us what claims 
they have upon the people for their votes? Our leaders 
have tried to force them out, but they refuse to come, 
preferring to stick to their old song that we are in fa- 
vor of negro equality ; I will meet the best man that 
you can raise in the county to-morrow, or any other 
day and discuss living issues with him, but I will hold 
him to the questions at issue, but my man failed to 
put in an appearance and I had the field all to my- 
self. After the meeting a number of my friends walk- 
ed with me to the hotel and we had a hearty laugh 
over what had occurred at the tea-table, the landlord 
among us ; he was a Democrat, but a very clever fel- 
low ; he said that I had scared that fellow out of the 
notion of replying to me, by what I said at supper he 
being at the table at the time I said what I did. 

I went next to Sunbury where I had one of the 
most genteel meetings that I ever addressed ; a num- 



—267— 

ber of the first ladies of the place were there to hear 
me who were not in the habit of attending political 
meetings ; I took advantage of their presence and de- 
voted half of my speech to female influence, giving a 
full history of their toil and labor in behalf of the 
patriots, cause not only in the revolutionary war, but 
in our late struggle for the Union, and wound up by 
appealing to them for their influence in the election 
of Gen. Grant. This highly pleased them and many 
of them came forward after the meeting and thanked 
me for my very complimentary allusions to them. I 
left Sunbury that night at twelve o'clock as popular 
as any man ever left a place. 

After leaving Sunbury I made a tour up the Juniata 
river, speaking at Mifiliu to a large meeting, the next 
day, then at Lewistown, Huntington, Tyrone, Altona 
and Hollidaysburg, having large and successful meet- 
ings at each place. From Hollidaysburg I returned 
to Philadelphia, where I spoke two or three times, 
closing the night before the State election. On my 
arrival back to Philadelphia, I found a letter from 
the New Jersey committee inviting me to speak for 
them until the Presidential election, provided they 
were done with me in Pennsylvania ; they were done 
with me there, and I therefore accepted the New Jer- 
sey invitation and spoke in Camden the next night. 

The committee that engaged me made an appoint- 
ment for me every day or night until the election. 
One of the first places that I vvent to was Tuckerton, 
a small town on the bank of the ocean in Bur- 
lington county ; I did not expect to meet many 
people there, but to my surprise when night 
came, the people came flocking in by hundreds 
until we had a mass meeting, that would have 
done credit to a city, and in all my travels 
through life I never met a more pleasant recep- 
tion than I did at that place. I was taken to Dr. 
Pages private residence, where I was toasted, feasted 



—268- 

and flattered, as though I had been a king; the 
people were not rich in this region, but they were the 
most hospitable people I ever met. 

I had another fine meeting in Vincentown, a place 
where I had spoken before, where the people tried 
how much fuss they could make over me ; I left there 
more popular than I ever was. I went from there to 
Melville, one of the largest manufacturing towns in 
West Jersey, where I had a monster meeting ; here I 
t )ok up the tariff question, which suited them in that 
place. The Democrats got up a procession at the 
same hour that our meeting was called, and formed 
their procession directly in front of the wigwam, where 
we held our meeting ; this vvas done in order to keep 
their party from hearing me, but it was no go. As soon 
as our band struck up a tune, the people crowded 
into the wigwam until every available spot in it was 
full ; I commenced and spoke until their parade was 
over and dismissed, when their leaders acknowleged 
that half of their men stayed to hear me speak. 

My next appointment was at Haddenfield, Camden 
county, where I was to meet Ex- Senator Frelinghuy- 
sen; here we had another great crowd, it was an after- 
noon meeting, to be held in a large hall. Hadden- 
field is an old fashion town, settled mostly by business 
men and retired merchants from Philadelphia. Just 
as the meeting organized a gentleman came forward 
and said that the committee had sent another speaker 
for the meeting, (a gentleman from Ohio) ; he was in- 
troduced to the chairman of the meeting and it was 
arranged that I should speak first a few minutes to 
draw the crowd together, then the stranger a short 
speech, and Mr. Frelinghuysen make the main speech 
of the day, and I to close up the meeting with a few 
good stories. But in this arrangement we were doomed 
to disappointment, for when this Ohio man got the 
floor, he spoke nearly three hours, talking about noth- 
ing that had any bearing upon the subject before the 



—269— 

meeting (what a great pity it is, that speakers don't 
know when to quit). Mr. Frelinghuysen was so dis- 
gusted at the manner in which he was treated that he 
only spoke ten minutes, and I closed up with a few anec- 
dotes. One of the wealthy citizens made a big party 
that night, Mr. Frelinghuysen and I were the invited 
guests and were serenaded in a splendid manner, but 
the Ohio man had so offended the people by the way 
that he had treated us speakers, that he was not in- 
vited, which gave him great offence. The greatest fault 
that a speaker can commit, is to speak the same thing 
over to the same audience in order to make a long 
speech, particularly when there are others to speak. 
This speaking to kill time has rendered many good 
speakers unpopular. My plan has even been to quit 
when I was done, and for that reason have never dri- 
ven my audience away while I was speaking, and 
could always get a larger audience to hear me, where 
I was best known than I could among strangers. 

I went from this place down among the glass blowers 
and wood choppers, here I met some pretty hard cus- 
tomers, some of them very ignorant, as much so, as 
any I ever met, but the name of the "Buckeye" would 
bring them out to our meetings and if they were not 
to full of Jersey whisky they would listen to me very 
attentively, but generally the Democrats will get them 
too full to understand much that is said, after staying 
a few days in that part of the State. I went to Sa- 
lem county, where we had a large mass meeting at a 
place called the Pole Tavern, a very noted place ; 
here I met Senator Cattell, who I found to be one of 
the most glorious men I ever met, and a very fine 
speaker, and I met many of my old friends of former 
years ; they gave me a very warm greeting. 

I stayed a few days in Salem county, spoke at seve- 
ral of the most public places in the county, and then 
left for Bridgeton one of the prettiest little cities in 
the State ; here we had a monster meeting and pro- 



—270— 

cession. Senator Cattell and I spoke, after which we 
had a grand supper, gotten up by ladies of the place. 
While the Senator was speaking some drunken shoe- 
maker called him a liar, I at once took it up and went 
down to thrash him, but before I got there the boys 
in blue had sent him flying from the crowd ; my re- 
sentment of the insult to their Senator made me very 
popular not only with him, but all his friends. I 
spoke in that county several times, winding up in that 
part of the State at a small town called Newport; our 
meeting was not large, but it was about the gayest 
meeting I ever attended ; one half of the audience 
were young ladies and a prettier set I never saw, they 
sung songs after I was done speaking until midnight, 
when we adjourned to the hotel and partook of a 
hearty supper, after wich I left in company with 
Sheriff Peacock who had taken me to all my meetings 
in the county, and with whom I stayed while in Bridge- 
ton ; he is a tiptop man, and has as fine a family as 
the cjunty can produce. 

On my way back to Camden I learned that Pro- 
fessor Lovejoy of Maryland was to hold a debate with 
one of the Camden Democrats at a small town on my 
road up. I concluded to stop and take a hand in it, 
therefore when within a mile or so of the place I got 
off the cars and stayed with a friend until the time for 
the meeting, when I quietly went in and took a seat 
in a back corner. As soon as they had made their 
speeches, a motion was made to adjourn, when J. W. 
Hazleton who knew I was there, raised up and moved 
that they now organize a mass meeting to hear the 
Buckeye Blacksmith, who was now in the room, make 
a speech ; this took the whole crowd by surprise, as 
but a few knew I was there. The motion carried and 
I walked forward and was introduced, the whole De- 
mocratic party of the neighborhood was there to hear 
the debate, which was lucky for me, to have a chance 
to give them my views on the subject. This Demo- 



—271— 

crat had alluded to me several times in his speech, 
as though he would like to have a chance at me in a 
debate, so when I commenced, I told the audience 
that I had accidently dropped into their meeting and 
had been very much amused at the remarks of the 
very learned gentleman who had last spoken, particu- 
larly when he said he would like to get hold of me, and 
now that I was here he had a chance to get into the 
Bears hands, and if he chose to attempt it, his 
mother would'nt know he was out, when he got through 
with me ; why said I, his whole theme has been the 
nigger, it w^as nigger when he began, and nigger when 
he closed, he seems to have a bad opinion of the nig- 
ger, as he calls him; possibly he has a right to have, pos- 
sibly some colored lady has given him the cold shoulder 
at some time, if so, he is excuseable for his opposition 
to them ; and turning to him, said, was you ever 
sacked by a colored girl ? He sung out no sir. This 
brought the house down with thunders of applause, 
and as soon as it subsided, I turned to him again and 
said, do you still want to get hold of the "Buckeye"? 
This brought down the house again, and thus I went 
on until there was not greese enough left of him to 
fry a mosquito, when the meeting adjourned with loud 
and long cheers for the "Buckeye", and I'll bet my 
head that he will never tell another audience, that he 
would like to get hold of the "Buckeye Blacksmith", 
that will be a night long to be remembered by those 
that were present. 

I left the next morning and spoke in Camden county 
some three times, closing the night before the election, 
at a place called the Flat Iron, in the surburbs of 
the city of Camden, where I met a drunken Demo- 
cratic crowd, who had collected there to break up our 
meeting as they bad done many others ; but 1 pitched 
into them, I told them that by that time the next 
night they would be howling out of the other side of 
their mouths, that we would bury them so deep the 



—272— 

next day, that even whisky would not be able to re- 
surrect them. I made my speech in spite of them, and 
in closing told them that I could thrash the best man 
they had among their cowardly crew, if they dared to 
come forward to the light, but it was no go. 

I finished my speech and came away with flying 
colors, crossed over to Philadelphia and the next 
morning took the cars and arrived home in Baltimore 
at one o'clock, in time to vote for Grant and Colfax, 
and thus ended that campaign. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

APPOINTED A SPECIAL AGENT IN TREASURY DEPART 
xMENT. — GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN PENN- 
SYLVANIA. — CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN 
IN MARYLAND. — THE PREACHER 
AND THE WASPS. — STRIKE A 
LIGHT OLD WOMAN, i'm 
ALL UNRAVELLING. 

THE ELECTION was over, Grant was elected, 
but I was very much broken down in health, af- 
ter eight months hard labor. I had but little money, 
out of employment and surrounded by Democrats that 
only pointed the finger of scorn at me. Whenever 
they met me, I tried various plans to get something 
to do, but tried in vain ; I got up a small useful ar- 
ticle, that every family needed, and tried to sell that, 
but they would tell me that I was too black for them, 
and refused to buy of me, and some of the very men 
that pointed me out as a nigger worshipper at that 
time and kept many persons from buying from me, 
are this day holding office in the Baltimore Custom 
house. This shows the principles of designing politi- 
cians, use you when they want you and kick you after 
they are done with you, this has been my experience 
through life. 



—274— 

x\s soon as Congress assembled in December, I 
went to Washington and got all the leading Republi- 
can members of both houses to sign a petition to Mr. 
Webster, to put me back in my old place. I had 
thirty Senators and fifty members of the house to ask 
him to put me back, but he refused to do so, giving 
as a reason, that it would be a bid for Grant to keep 
him in his office, and thus I was left to work my 
way through the winter, the best I could. The 4th 
of March came at last and although I had worked 
eight long months, and vTent through as many hard- 
ships as any man ever did, I could not raise money 
to go and see him take his seat. But my organ of 
hope was large, and I looked forward to better days. 
I intended to apply for a special agency in the 
Treasury Department, as soon as Grant had his ca- 
binet made up and concluded that I must do some- 
thing to show the department that I had a capa- 
city for that branch of business. There were rumors 
of fraud in one of the internal revenue districts of Bal- 
timore, that the Assesor was playing in the hands of 
the whisky ring, so in connection with another 
gentleman, I went to work and made out a very 
strong case against him. 1 took the proofs to Wash- 
ington and laid them before Commissioner Delano, 
whose solicitor pronounced them strong enough to re- 
move any man. Mr. Boutwell at once removed him, 
but lo and behold, that same man has lately been ap- 
pointed to office again in the Custom house ; this is the 
way politicians do business ; as soon as I made out a 
case out against him, I went lo see President Grant 
and made my wants known to him, he at once sent me 
to the Treasury Department and in two hours after I 
was appointed one of the special agents of that de- 
partment at five dollars a day, and went home with 
flying colors, but by some hook or crook in sixty two 
days after I was discharged. I went to Washington 
and could get no reason for it, neither could I find out 
by whom it was done. 



—275— 

Mr. 0. D. Madge, the head of my department went 
to work and raised some money, to pay my expences 
in Pennsylvania to stump the State for Gov. Geary, 
who was Tuning for his second term, 

I started and went to Philadelphia, where I made a 
few speeches around the suburbs of the city, and then 
left for the western part of the State ; my first appoint- 
ment was in Waynesburg, the county town of Greene 
county, one of the most rabid Democratic counties 
of the State ; indeed this county bordering as it did on 
Virginia, gave the government more trouble during 
the war to keep them in subjection than any county 
in the State. It was court week, and the day of court 
when the the most ol the people of the county were 
in town, I consequently had a very large meeting ; I 
had all the leading Copperheads of the county at my 
meeting, as well as all the leading Republicans, inclu- 
ding Hon. J. B. Donley the member of Congress of that 
district, who I found to be a live and active Eepubli- 
can, one of the best in the county. My meeting 
was at one o'clock and as I had never spoken there 
before, all were very anxious to hear me. I had all 
the Democratic speakers and principal men in the 
county to hear me, I therefore expected a pretty 
lively time of it, but had no fears but that I would 
come out all right. 

I was introduced and commenced by referring to 
myself as being a plain, uneducated man and therefore 
should not attempt to make anything but a plain speech. 
I then told them, that from my long experience in 
politics I had become fully satisfied that the masses of 
the people, without regard to their political views, were 
honest, that what the people wanted is truth, this they 
could not get from the Democratic leaders ; I told 
them there was not a Democratic speaker, from his 
honor the judge of the court, down to their commonest 
speaker in the county, who would meet me on the issues 



—276— 

which divided the two parties, and stick to the question. 
They are going to have a meeting to-night, said I, and 
they will tell you all about a nigger ; they even know 
how many bones he has in his feet ; they will tell you 
that his nose is flat, his lips thick, his heel long, and 
all that kind of talk, but this is not the issue that we 
have to meet ; the true issue before the people to day 
is ; shall those who sacrificed their blood and treasure 
to save the Union rule it, or those who did all they 
could to destroy it ? Now the question is this : how 
many of you Greene county Democrats aided in put- 
ting down the rebellion, and how many of you aided 
in furnishing the fuel to keep up the flames of rebel- 
lion ! You who assisted in putting it down have a right 
to say in this matter, and you who did not, I would 
advise to take a back seat and keep your mouths shut. 

I went on in this way pitching into them for at least 
two hours, they looking daggers at me all the time, 
but I cared nothing for that, for I had friends enough 
to sustain me. What few Republicans there are in 
the county are made of the right material, they know 
their rights and have manhood enough to maintain 
them. 

That night the unterrified held their meeting ; they 
had two speakers, the first one was a Doctor Patton, a 
very intelligent man, but not a very good speaker. — 
He raved and foamed about what I had said, misquo- 
ted much of my speech and seemed to be angry at me 
for telling beforehand what he wanted to say about the 
nigger ; but he pitched into the nigger and dissected 
him pretty well. He proved at least to the satisfaction 
of some of his hearers that the nigger was not exactly 
a human being. 

The next speaker was a man by the name of Craw- 
ford, he was a much better orator than the doctor. He' 
pitched into me rough shod, but did it in such nice 
style that I could not help but admire his tact in get- 
ting a laugh on me. (I always liked a good joke if it 



—277— 

did turn the laugh on myself.) This speaker also gave 
the nigger more attention than he gave any other sub- 
ject. (I would here remark that I defy any Demo- 
cratic speaker in this nation to make a speech thirty 
minutes long, without naming the word nigger, it can't 
be done. What! a democratic speech without the 
nigger, that would be ridiculous.) 

I left the next morning for Carmichaels, a small 
town in the same county. Here I met some very good 
men of both parties ; here I found the greatest opposi- 
tion against Gov. Geary that I had yet found. He 
had made a speech there the year before in the Grant 
campaign, which had given some offense, and I had 
hard work to heal up the sore that he had made, but 
I did it by appealing to their love of Republicanism, 
to vote the party ticket. 

From here I went to Brownsville in Fayette county. 
It was the week of their Fair; the to\yn was full of 
people, which enabled us to get up a monster out-door 
meeting. Here also I met plenty of the unterrified, 
many of them being full of Democratic argument, 
(whisky) were quite noisy, but there were too many of 
the boys in blue present to permit any trouble from 
them, and after two or three of their most noisy ones 
got knocked dovrn for their insults, the rest took the 
hint and behaved themselves. 

The next night I had a meeting in West Browns- 
ville, a small place on the west side of the river, in 
Washington county. Here I met the most degraded 
drunken crew that I eyer saw ; they were determined 
that I should not speak that night, and some of my 
friends advised me not to attempt it, for fear of an 
outbreak, but the Brownsville boys knew what kind of 
a place it was, and came over in full strength to sus- 
tain me while I made my speech. From there I went 
to Bellville and spoke to a large out-door meeting and 
walked nine miles next morning before breakfast, in 
order to take the boat to Pittsburg, having received 



—278— 

orders from the State Committee to return to the east- 
ern counties to speak. 

When I returned to Philadelphia I found that the 
Delaware county committee had engaged ray services 
for that county as the only person who could reconcile 
the disaffection that existed in that county among our 
own party. Geary had become so unpopular with the 
best men, owing to the unwise use he had made of the 
pardoning power, that there were great fears that w^e 
would lose the county, and in addition to this, the old- 
est paper we had in the county was out against not 
only Geary, but two of the county nommees. 

I went there and filled a series of appointments from 
that until the election. Our plan was to take a horse 
and wagon and ride around all day among the people, 
invite them personally to come and hear me speak, 
and in that way got them out to our meeting through 
friendship to me, when nothing else could have gotten 
them out, then through ray earnest appeals to their 
party prejudice and my good humored way of coaxing 
them we were able to carry the county by naarly its 
usual majority. 

My plan was to get them to our meetings, tell them 
a few good stories, and then make an appeal to their 
patriotism, speak of how they had stood by the party 
and our country in our darkest hours, and now because 
one man had made a mistake and committed an error, 
no doubt of the head and not of the heart, we must not 
forsake the old ship, and let her fall into the hands of 
the very piratical crew that we had spent so much 
money and sacrificed so much blood to overpower, and 
keep from sinking the very ship that we are about to 
surrender into their hands, by refusing to support the 
ticket that the party had given us. 

By my earnest appeals and constant labor both day 
and night for several weeks w^e were able as above sta- 
ted to save the county. On the night before the elec- 
tion I spoke at Marcus Hook at eight o'clock and then 



—279- 

rode in a buggy nine miles, (the horse ran away and 
upset us once) and made another long speech, and then 
back nine miles more the same night. This my dear 
reader is the way that I have worked for my party, 
and that without pay or any other reward than their 
thanks. The morning of election I took leave of all 
my Delaware county friends and these were not a few, 
and returned home crowned with laurels, but had no 
money. I went to Washington again to try for some- 
thing to do, when Mr. Madge my former head officer 
had me reappointed back in my old place, and where 
through his influence, as one of the best friends I ever 
had, I have ever since remained. I went to work as 
an assistant to special agent. J. B. Morris, who was 
located at Baltimore, and who was a good Pennsylva- 
nia Republican and have had a very pleasant time 
with hira since we have been together. 

As I was now in a situation which I expected to keep, 
I again made up my mind to let politics alone, but 
one of my greatest faults through life has always been 
whenever I took si<les for any man, I would stop at 
nothing that was fair to aid in electing him. Accord- 
ingly in 1870 I had a friend, Wm. M. Marine, an en- 
terprising young lawyer who I had known as a friend 
and advocate of human liberty. I knew him to be 
sound on all of the great questions of reform and pro- 
gress of the present day. He was a candidate for the 
nomination for Congress in my district ; I felt that he 
deserved it. He being an excellent speaker, I conclu- 
ded to stump the district with him in favor of his nom- 
ination. We did so, and had a very fine time of it ; 
we had large and respectable audiences wherever we 
went, we carried every election district we spoke in. — 
I'he result was, that my friend was nominated but the 
district being six thousand against him he was not elec- 
ted. Mr. James A. Gary was the nominee in the fifth 
district, and there being a large colored vote in that 
district it was supposed that we could carry it for him 



—280— 

The colored people having heard of my speaking, 
in the second district for my friend Marine, insisted 
on my being sent among them. I therefore concluded 
to go through the lower counties of this district 
and speak for him. Mr. J. H. Butler a very 
prominent speaker of Baltimore agreed to accompany 
me, so we got a first class horse and carriage and 
started, this was the gayest campaign I had ever had. 
The whites were generally bitterly opposed to me, they 
thought it terrible for a white man to ride around 
speaking with a negro. We had to eat and sleep with 
the colored people in most places, as the whites would 
not keep us, but that was only fun for me, for I have 
always thought that a colored patriot was a better man 
than a white rebel, so I preferred staying with them. 

The first place we went to was Calvert county, 
where we had a very large meeting, we had all the 
white rebels of the neighborhood there looking as mad 
as the devil at me, but I cared nothing for that, I 
pitched into them, I told the colored people that their 
getting a vote had rather upset the Democrats, they 
reminded me of an old preacher who had a pair of 
buckskin breeches that he always wore over his pants 
in the Winter to keep the cold out, and during the 
Summer they were hung in the garret out of the way. 
In the Fall a number of wasps crawled into them to 
avoid the cold, and finally froze there. One cold morn- 
ing the old man told his daughter Betsy to get his 
leather breeches for him, she got them, he put them 
on with the legs full of frozen wasps, he went to the 
church and found a warm stove, and soon after he be- 
gan to preach the heat of the room soon thawed the 
wasps into life, and just in the midst of the sermon 
one of them stung him on the leg; he slapped down 
his hand and began to rub, which set several others 
to stinging, and him to rubbing worse than ever, until 
the whole audience became interested in knowing 
what was wrong, when the man looked up and said, 



—281— 

''brethren the spirit of the Lord is in my heart, but 
the devil is in my breeches;" so it is, said I, with these 
white gentlemen, (pointing to them.) The spirit of 
Democracy is in their hearts, but your yoting has put 
the devil in their breeches. This raised a great laugh 
among the colored people. 

I then asked the colored people if these white gen- 
tlemen were not trying to get their Totes, they sung 
out "yes." Why that is funny said I, they used to 
call you damned niggers, did'nt they ? "Yes they 
did," cried out an old man; they used to say you had 
flat noses and thick lips, and long heels, and crooked 
shins, and curley hair, did'nt they? "Yes bless the 
lord they did," cried a dozen voices; yes said I, and 
they said more than that, they said you stunk like 
the devil; "that's the god's truth," cried out an old 
black woman ; "hear him men," said she, "every word 
the man says is true, bless thCjLord I know it." I told 
them that their duty was a plain one, they must stand 
by the party that gave them their manhood, they must 
stand by themselves, and see that their rights were 
not taken away from them. And their votes since 
show that they not only know their rights but are de- 
termined to take care of them. 

We had a monster meeting at Port Tobacco, in 
Charles county, there were a large crowd of rebels at 
it. I told the colored people that their getting a 
vote had put the Democrats in a bad way. I told 
them it reminded me of a man in Ohio, who was in 
the habit of coming home drunk every few nights, (he 
was a Democrat of course, said I,) and his wife always 
set a bowl of bread and milk on the table for him to 
have a lunch when he came home. So one night one 
of the children dropped a small ball of silk thread 
from her work basket into the bowl of bread and milk, 
the mother not noticing it went to bed. John came 
home, got his milk and bread and went to work eat- 
ing it, while doing so he swallowed the ball of thread 



—282— 

tlie loose end of it sticking between his teeth ; he felt 
something tickling him in the throat, he said what 
in the devil does all this mean, and began pulling it 
out, but before he had got more than a yard or two 
out, he got frightened and sung out Peggy, Peggy. She 
jumped out of bed and said, John don't make such a 
noise, you will waken the whole neighborhood. I 
don't care a durn, strike a light woman, strike a light, 
I am all unravelling. That is the way with these white 
gentlemen, (pointing to them,) your right to vote has 
unravelled them, they don't hardly know what to do, 
'and I would not be surprised to see them before the 
election, picking up your little colored children in the 
streets and kissing them, and swearing they are the 
prettiest children they ever seen, that they look like 
their father, all for the sake of getting the father's 
vote. You are not a damned nigger now, you are our 
colored fellow citizen now aint you, said I? "Halle- 
lujah to de lamb, every word de man is saying is the 
God's truth," said an old man. 

Then if this is true, stand by your manhood, since 
you are men, and don't suffer these men to mislead 
you on the day of election, and if they can buy poor 
white men's votes for whisky, teach them that the 
black man has more self-respect than to suffer him- 
self to be bought with a glass of whisky or at any 
other price. 

Gen. A. E. King one of the finest and most popu- 
lar speakers in the State, in company with Mr. Gary 
and other able speakers, met Butler and I at all the 
mass meetings that were held in the district. In the 
interval between these meetings Butler and I would 
hold one or two small meetings every day. We had 
a large barbecue in St. Mary's county, where I think 
there are about as many conceited Democratic lawyers 
as I ever met; they challenged me for a debate, I ac- 
cepted it, both parties were to be there, (these white 
Democrats had no objection to eat the niggers bread 



and meat when they could get it, but were above vot- 
ing with them.) 

Well these lawyers had a speech written out, and it 
mattered not who made the speech, they all made the 
same one. I got hold of it, and when we met to have 
the debate, I spoke first and made his speech and re- 
plied to it in advance of him; this of course took the 
wind out of his sails and left him unprepared to an- 
swer me, he got very angry, charging me with unfair- 
ness, but I contended that I had a right to suppose 
that he was going to say just what I had told the peo- 
ple he would, for said I there are fourteen speakers of 
your party in the county, and every one of you make 
the same speech, you have but one and can make no 
other. This raised a great laugh, and one old Demo- 
crat said that he was ashamed of his party for letting 
a Blacksmith beat them out as I had. This lawyer 
had an arm full of books with him, but I told the 
people what he would read out of them, so when he 
would read from a book the whole crowd would laugh, 
I having read the same from a piece of paper. But- 
ler made the closing speech, and I don't think that 
lawyer will want to meet us again in a debate. 

We had a very large meeting at Bryantown, the 
home of Dr. Mudd of Dry Tortugus notoriety, As soon 
as I was done speaking the doctor demanded a right 
to reply to me, he said they never allowed a man to 
speak there without a reply, I told him all right, and 
he mabe a reply, but not being a very good speaker, 
made but a very poor attempt. Butler followed him 
and before he was done with him, he had even the 
doctors white friends laughing at him. 

Thus butler and I travelled from place to place, for 
nearly six weeks, eating and drinking, sleeping and 
speaking together, and I must say that I never had a 
more pleasant companion in all my travels. Butler 
is a glorious good fellow, if he is a colored man. 
Although we returned home without accomplishing 



—284— 

ouf object, viz ; the election of Mr. Gary, we felt sat-. 
isfied that we had not only discharged our dnty to 
him, but to the Republican cause. 

I receiyed much praise for the manner in which I 
conducted that campaign, by some of the leading men 
of the party, particularly the Hon. J. L. Thomas the 
collector of the port of Baltimore, who I consider one 
of the best Republicans in the State; and who I am 
certain was one of the best collectors Baltimore ever 
had, my official relations with him for four years satis- 
fied me that he is an honest man, and I challenge any 
Port in the United States to produce a more honest or 
faithful set of men than his subordinate officeis were 
the day he left the Custom House. 

It was my duty as an officer, to look after his men, 
and see that they attend well to their business, and I 
am proud to say that with few exceptions I always 
found them prompt to duty. 




CHAPTER XV. 

SETTLED DOWN TO BUSINESS. — STUMPING IN PENN- 
SYLVANIA. — "PEGGY WHEN DID I SWALLOW THOSE 
GOSLINGS." — GREELY BROKE UP THE DEMO- 
CRATIC PARTY. — SPEAKING IN NEW JER- 
SEY. — ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN. 

ON MY return from my tour with Butler, I settled 
down to business again and although very much 
broken down by constant travelling and speaking both 
day and night. I soon rallied again to my usual 
health and strength, and from that time until July 
1872 mingled but very little in politics, but continued 
to assist special agent Morris in the business of our of- 
fice, with whom I get along on the most friendly terms, 
nothing occurring to mar our happiness, and I am very 
certain, that the last four years have been the happiest 
years of my life, and I sincerely hope that we may be 
spared to pass four more years as pleasantly together 
as we have the former, having devoted the best part of 
my life to the service of my party I think it nothing 
but fair, now that I am old, that the party should take 
care of me, which I have no doubt they will so long as 
I conduct myself in a proper manner. 



• — 28B— 

General Grant having received the nomination for 
his second term, with that great and good man, Henry 
Wilson for Vice President, I concluded to take the 
stump in Pennsylvania, in support of them, and about 
the first of July started for that field of labor. 1 had 
not been there many days before I found that Grant 
would gain an easy victory, the old dyed-in-the-wool 
Democrats would not swallow Greely, he had said too 
many hard things about them in former years for them 
to bite at the bait, we had however a hard fight before 
us. General Hartranft was our candidate for Governor, 
and Buckalew his competitor was very popular and 
hard to beat. In addition to that Hartranft was un- 
popular owing to the many falsehoods that the Dem- 
ocracy had trumped up against him, and instead of 
the fight being between Grant and Greely it was 
pretty much entirely between Hartranft and Buckalew. 
I was not long in finding out Buckalew's weak points, 
one of which was his speech and vote in the Senate of 
Pennsylvania the winter before, on what was known 
as the Screen Bill ; this speech and vote were very un- 
popular among the miners throughout the State.^ I 
prepared myself with the official journals of the Sen- 
ate and went down to the mining regions of the State, 
and pitched into him, with my documents to prove 
what I said, and I have no doubt but these journals 
had very much to do with his defeat, as it was impos- 
sible for him or his friends to get around them. 

I had considerable fun with the Democrats about 
Greely ; I asked them if they thought he was an hon- 
est man, some one would sing out yes, when I would 
reply, well let us see what he says about you and your 
party, and then read an article from his paper calling 
them thieves and drunkards and every other vile name 
he could think of, and then ask them what they thought 
of that, if he is honest he wont lie, and if he don't lie 
you are a thundering hard party, at least your own 
candidate says so. I had a large meeting at Shamokin, 



—287— 

one of the strongholds of the Democracy, when I ask- 
ed them why they had taken Greely as their candidate, 
or had he been forced on them by their leaders? I 
know you hate him, I feel sorry for you, it is a pill you 
hate to swallow, but you can't help it, bitter as it is 
you have to take it. 

I told them it put me in mind of a fellow wl o came 
home very tight, (he was a Democrat of course,) and 
felt sick, and called his wife to get him a bucket for 
he must throw up. She took the light and went to 
the kitchen for one, but he was too sick to wait for her 
and seeing something behind the stove that looked like 
a bucket, he emptied the whisky out of his stomach 
into that, but instead of it being a bucket it was a 
basket full of young goslings, that she had put there 
to keep them warm. The goslings began to squirm 
around not liking the smell of his whisky, when she 
came with the light and he saw the goslings he turned 
to his wife and said : in the name of God Peggy, when 
did I swallow all these goslings ? So in the name of 
God how could the Democratic party swallow Horace 
Greely ? This created a loud and long laugh, many 
of the old Democrats joining in it heartily. 

I had a large meeting in Lock Haven, another 
stronghold of Democracy and had plenty of them at 
my meeting. I told the people that I had not one 
word to say against Mr. Greeley, for I considered him 
one of the best men that ever lived; he had done more 
for the benefit of this country than any man living, and 
indeed I consider that he has done more than all the 
men put together that ever did live in the country. 
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and all the leading men 
of the nation labored and died without accomplishing 
the object they had in view. The great Whig party 
existed fifty years and failed to do the job. Mr. Lin- 
coln in the Presidential chair, with Grant at the head 
of the army could not do it. But Horace Greeley 
stepped in and has done the job without charging a 



cent foi' his labor, for which he deserves the thanks of 
this Nation. That is he has broken up the Democrat- 
ic party, and if that does not entitle him to the 
thanks of the country, I should like to know what 
would ; this created considerable skuffling among the 
unterrified, and laughter among the Republicans. 

I spoke at several other meetings on my way out to 
Lawrence county, where I intended to pass some time, 
in order to fight the Democratic candidate for Con- 
gress ; he had been elected two years before by a split 
in the Republican party of that county, he having 
beaten a bosom friend of mine by that m; ans. I felt 
determined to beat him this time if possible, I went to 
Lawrence and commenced speaking, charging him 
with certain votes in Congress the winter before, which 
he and his friends denied, charging me with falsehoods 
and demanding the proof; I had no proof further 
than newspaper proof, which they denied. I was de- 
termined not to be beat, so I left some of my appoint- 
ments to be filled by other speakers and left for Wash- 
ington city in order to get the journals of Congress to 
prove the truth of what I had said. 

As soon as I had left they said that I would never 
return, that I had taken that method of getting away, 
but they had missed their mark, for I went as fast as 
the cars would carry me, and drew a half months 
salary, and bought out of my own money the whole 
set of journals of the winter before and the same night 
took the cars back, and in three days from the time 
I started I was back among them fully armed and 
equipped to make good every word that I had said 
about his votes, and then made appointments through 
three of the counties composing his distiict. My jour- 
nals struck them like a bombshell, wherever I went, 
his friends would deny what I said and challenge me 
for the proof, when I would open my big book and 
ask them to step forward and read it for themselves, 
this was a settler. They were unable to answer it and 



—239— 

I have no doubt but that those journals were the means 
of uniting the Republicans in Lawrence and Beaver 
counties and of his defeat ; I spoke in all the principal 
places in three counties, producing my documents on 
all occasions and inviting the people to examine them 
for themselves. 

The Pittsburg and other papers through the district 
gave me great praise for my energy in procuring the 
proofs of the charges that I made and the labor I per- 
formed in laying them before the people; I certainly 
labored af* hard in these three counties as ever I did 
in my life, and think that I am entitled to some credit 
for what I did. There are but few as poor as I was, 
that would have taken their own means and went four 
hundred miles and bought documents, to carry one 
congressional district. But I was determind to beat 
him and I did beat him, this has always been a great 
fault of mine, to spend all I ever made m trying to prpmote 
my party. If I had have been a little more selfish 
and looked after my own interest as well as I did the 
interest of my party, it would have been better for me; 
but I never think of myself when my country or party 
need my services, neither have I ever counted the 
cost, but go ahead at all hazards, believing in the old 
proverb, that duty before pleasure is the best motto. 

I closed the campaign in Pennsylvania on Saturday 
before the election and returned home to wait the re- 
sult. It was generally conceded, that if Hartranft 
carried ^he State, that there would be no m6re meet- 
ings held, as all knew that Buckalew would get more 
votes than Greeley, as there were thousands of Demo- 
crats that would not vote for Greeley that would for 
him, therefore the fight was entirely on the Governor 
and Congressional vote, the most crazy Democrat in 
the State had no hope of electing Greeley. 

When I got home, every person I met wanted to 
know how Pennsylvania was going for Governor. I 
told them that Hartranft would be elected by at least 



—290— 

twenty five thousand majority. They would look at 
each other and laugh, and some said I had gone crazy, 
they had been led to believe that Buckalew would 
certainly be elected, and I think he would have been, 
if the election had taken place six weeks before it did, 
as Hartranft's friends had not at that time prooved the 
charges brought against him by the opposition to be 
false, which we did during the last six weeks of the 
campaign to the entire satisfaction of all honorable 
and thinking men of both parties ; a deeper or more 
villainous scheme was never invented, than the one 
they got up to defeat the wishes of the people and 
them into support of Buckalew their candidate, but it 
failed. 

The day of the election I left for New Jersey, to 
speak in the first congressional district in favor of my 
old friend, J. W. Hazleton, who was running for his 
second term. The Democrats had taken up a liberal 
Republican, a great friend of Mr. Greeley, against 
him and were expecting to carry enough RepublicaH 
votes to elect him easy. They were very bitter against 
Hazleton, he was and had been for many years a lead- 
ing temperance man, and that was enough for them, for 
everybody knows, that bad whisky has ever been a 
leading commodity in their stock of trade. This libe- 
ral Republican candidate of theirs lived in Vineland 
City, where Mr. Greeley owned property, and where 
he oftened visited and lectured, and consequently had 
a number of warm Republican friends, who would vote 
for him, this they thought would enable them to beat 
Hazleton. As soon as I got there and began speaking 
they met me and challenged me to debate with their 
candidate, I of course accepted, and a meeting was ar- 
ranged, but when the time arrived my opponent failed 
to put in an appearance, but sent a substitute in his 
place. He was a very clever fellow, but knew but 
little about politics, so it was not much trouble to put 
him to flight. 



—291— 

I commenced my debate by stating that the only 
principles that the opposition had yet advanced, that I 
had heard of, was anything to beat Grant. Now I will 
ask the gentleman who is to follow me to tell us why 
they have such a desire to beat Grant. Is it because 
the day he was elected four years ago, that our bonds 
were worth but seventy two cents on the dollar, in the 
bank of England, while their own bonds were worth 
ninety three, and to-day our bonds are worth ninety 
three and a half, and theirs are worth but ninety two 
and a half, or is it because that our bonds were only 
worth in Frankfort the great money centre of Ger- 
many, sixty nince cents on the dollar, while theirs were 
worth ninety six four years ago, and to-day our's are 
ninety six cents while theirs are worth but ninety five. 
Or is it because the day Grant was elected that gold 
was worth one dollar and thirty seven cents, and to-day 
it is worth but one dollar and fourteen; or is it because 
the day Grant was elected you could buy a hundred 
dollar bond for seventeen dollars less than you could 
a hundred dollars of gold, and to-day you can get a 
hundred dollars of gold for four dollars less than you 
can get a hundred dollar bond. 

Now I submit it not only to the gentleman who is 
to follow me, but to every candid man present, if they 
have ever known or heard of any Government, whose 
paper bonds were worth more than their par value at 
home, except ours, and if ever ours were until now, 
these statements that I dave made are facts known to 
every man who now hears me, and of which every 
man is proud. 

I would here ask the gentleman to tell us what has 
brought about all these happy results, and for fear he 
will fail to inform us, I will give you some of the 
reasons which produced them. 

When the war was over, and Andrew Johnson be- 
came the President, he undertook to control the Gov- 
enment independent of Congress, thereby bringing him- 



—292-^ 

self in direct conflict with the legislative branch of 
the same; the result was not only the people of our 
own country, but the Government of the whole world 
lost confidence in onr ability to meet our obligations, 
the result was we had no credit at home or abroad, but 
as soon as General Grant took charge of the helm of 
State, in unison with the great Republican party 
who had achieved so much, confidence became at once 
restoied and the result was brought about, our credit 
began to improve abroad as well as at home ; gold be- 
gan to fall, and our bonds to increase in value and de- 
mand, until to-day there is no Government on earth 
whose credit either at home or abroad, stands as high 
as ours, then why change it, why not let good enough 
alone. 

Suppose you elect Mr. Greeley, what could he do 
with both branches of Congress against him? Do you 
want another dead lock between Congress and the Presi- 
dent for four years more, as we had under Johnson? I 
say God forbid it, rather let us go on under our gallant 
leader General Grant, who is in full sympathy with 
Congress on all questions that pertain to the welfare of 
our country. This argument had the effect that I de- 
sired, it pretty nearly shut the mouth of my opponent 
as he was unable to answer it. 

In his reply he had considerable to say about the 
great principles of the Democratic party, saying that it 
was principles and not men that his party advocated, 
but failed to tell us what those principles were, making 
as all who heard him acknowledged, a very poor at- 
tempt at a speech. In my reply to him, I asked what 
those principles were that the gentleman had been talk- 
ing about, he certainly having fiiiled to tell us, and I 
had many doubts whether he or any other man present 
could give us the information, it would be a pretty hard 
thing to perform. I once heard an anecdote related on 
that subject, which ran thus : 

An old minister dreamed that as he went to church 



—293-. 

on Sunday, he met the devil on the road, who accused 
him of being selfish in denying that he (the devil) had 
any power on earth. Well I don't believe that you 
have, said the minister; the devil replied I will prove 
that I have, provided you will give me credit for it 
publicly, after I have done so. The minister not be- 
lieving that he could do anything, agreed to it. Now 
said the devil I will do any three things that you pro- 
pose or I will give it up. Well said the minister pull 
up that big white oak tree that stands there; he thought 
in his dream that the devil took hold of it and pulled 
it up as though it had been a straw, and laughed at 
the old man. Now for your next job. Well said 
the minister, level down this rocky mountain into the 
valley and make it smoothe; the devil he thought put 
his arms around it and drew it down into the valley 
making it level. This frightened the old man some- 
what, the devil only laughed at him and said come on, 
you have one chance more; the old man studied a mo- 
ment to think of what he should tell him to do, all at 
once the idea struck him, handing the devil a pencil 
and piece of paper told him to sit down and write out 
the principles of the Democratic party in New Jersey. 
The devil looked him in the eye for a few minutes and 
then began to cry, saying you have got me there Parson 
that is more than I bargained for, and bidding the old 
deacon good morning, he walked away ; this raised a 
good laugh, and concluded my reply by saying that I 
supposed that it would puzzle even the devil to tell 
what their principles were. 

That one debate satisfied them, for they found that 
they had no child to deal with when they got hold of 
me, I was too well posted on all the political questions 
of the day for them to attempt and argue the issues 
that were before the people, with me. A few days 
after my debate, Mr. Hazelton sent a gentleman to 
assist me in Salem county, by the name ol Peck, who 
I found to be not only a very intelligent gentleman, 



-294— 

but a first class speaker. His manner of speaking was 
somewhat different fiom mine, he made very strong 
appeals to the finer feelings of the people, showing 
strong reason why they should stand by Grant and 
the party, while I used my documents and pitched into 
the Democrats, using many of my anecdotes to make 
the people laugh. 

Mr. Peck being a writer of some note in the Wash- 
ington papers, as well as an employee of the Treasury 
department, he was well posted on all of the live issues 
of the day, which made him a very agreeable compan- 
ion as well as a very suitable speaker to travel with rae. 
Mr. Hazleton knowing this arranged it for him and I 
to travel together, which we did for some two weeks, 
speaking every day and some days twice. The people 
of Salem county as well as through West Jersey are 
generally a very sociable as well as hospitable class of 
people, the result was Mr. Peck and I had a very 
pleasent time while among them, they fed us on the 
best and gave us a hearty welcome wherever we went. 

I was so much pleased with Mr. Hazleton's treatment 
while in his district that I hope his constituents will 
have the good sense to nominate him next year for a 
third term, for I am very certain they could not get a 
better man, if they do Mr. Peck and I will stump his 
district for him if we live. 

I left New Jersey a few days before the election 
fully satisfied that our labors would be crowned with 
success. 

The result of my labors in that district were crown- 
ed with glorious success, instead of Hazelton having 
two thousand majority as he hod two years before, he 
had near seven thousand this time, and his opponent 
left the district a few days after in perfect disgust, to 
seek retirement in some more congenial latitude. I 
returned home in time to vote, pretty much worn down 
by my arduous labors for near four months. I have 
become old and can't stand the hardships 1 once could, 



—295— 

and I often wonder how I have been able to undergo 
what I have. Neither will it ever be known in the 
world what I have endured for my party and its prin- 
ciples, and now when I am old and not able to work 
after having devoted all the best part of my life to the 
service of my party, many of those who now hold an 
office and are enjoying the fruits of my labor, have 
tried to deprive me of the small place that I have and 
thus deprive me in my old days of a means of getting 
a living. 

Thus it is and always has been with politicians, you 
are everything when they want you and nothing when 
they are done with you. If it was the last advice that 
ever I expected to give to a young man, I would tell 
him to beware of a tricky politician, for they are not 
to be trusted, and I do assure you, that had I my life 
to live over again that I Avould never be one, but as it 
is I expect to devote the few remaining days of my 
life to the service of my party. Being too old to com- 
mence a different calling, and having made politics the 
study of my life, I am now unfit for any other 
business. 

And although I have devoted the best part of a 
long and eventful life, to the intercits of my party and 
its principles, without saving a dollar to support me in 
my declining years, yet I have the glorious satisfaction 
of knowing that I have lived to see, and to aid in the 
overthrow of the two greatest evils that ever cursed 
our glorious country, viz : the destruction of slavery 
and the Democratic party. I was fully satisfied for 
more than thirty years past, that in order to destroy 
that party, that it was necessary to take from it the 
props that held it up, slavery being one of its main 
pillars, hence destroy it and the party must fall for the 
want of support. 

The Democratis party never had but two pillars upon 
which to stand, or upon which it has stood for fifty 
years, they were slavery aud whisky, destroy them and 



—296— 

you will heai but little more of the Democratic party. 
I have lived to see the one destroyed and have spent 
half of my life in helping to do it, and sincerely hope 
that I may live to see the day when their last prop will 
be knocked from under them. 

And now before closing this little narative of my 
life and travels, I wish to say that no doubt but that I 
have made many grammatical errors, and many very 
pleasing incidents have been omitted, having written 
this work entirely from memory and it embracing a 
period of over sixty years, it could not be expected 
that I coiild recollect every thing that should have 
been mentioned in a work like this. And if it had 
not been that I have the greatest memory of places, 
times and occurrances, of any man living, I could not 
have possibly written this book. Being as I was de- 
prived in early life of an education, I was compelled 
to depend upon my memory for all business purposes, 
it became very sharp, and old as I am I could describe 
almost every place that I ever spoke at in the last forty 
years ; but not being a writer I have left out of their 
place very many of my best anecdotes as well as many 
pleasing incidents that have occured during my travels. 
Many of the anecdotes that I have used in this book, 
were original with me, I having used the most of them 
thirty years ago, and therefore they may appear stale 
to you, having heard them before, but still I was the 
author of most of them. 

My dear reader I have given you in my own plain 
way, some of my political experience, travels and la- 
bor in politics, as well as many of the incidents which 
have occurred during my eventful life, hoping that it 
may not only prove interesting to many of my friends 
who may read it, but also be instructive in a political 
point of view. It has been my aim and desire in pre- 
senting what I have written, to introduce nothing but 
the truth in as plain and condensed manner as my 
limited education would admit of, and I feel very cer- 



—297— 

tain that all who are personally acquainted with me, 
and have a knowledge of my labor for and devotion to 
my party, will fully appreciate not only my little book, 
but my energy and labor, as well as my motive in 
placing this history before the public ; for I do most 
positively assure them that at my age of life, I never 
should have undertaken such a task, if it had not been 
that I was poor and although holding a small office, 
which at the best is an uncertain means of a living not 
knowing what hour I may be dismissed, and supposing 
that with this little history, I could make a living the 
the balance of my life, 1 was advised by my friend. 
Special Agent Morris to attempt the task of placing 
this volume before the public, hoping that it may be 
as acceptable to them as my speeches have always ap- 
peared to be. 

And I will here take occasion to assure my friends 
that let my days be many or few, whenever the party 
needs my services and I am able to obey their call, that 
they will always find me ready and willing, as I ever 
have been to assist in the great cause of republican- 
ism, no matter in what circumstances I may be placed. 

But before closing this history I have a few thoughts 
to give to my young readers, hoping they may receive 
it kindly as coming from a friend, for I mean it in no 
other than a kind spirit, my first advice is, under all 
circumstances and in whatever position you may be 
placed, obey and respect your parents, for in doing 
this, you not only have the promise of the lif3 that 
now is, but of that which is to come. It has been 
ray experience through life, that whenever I found 
a young man who obeyed and respected his parents, he 
always succeeded well, and was universally respected, 
but on the other hand, I scarcely ever knew one who 
disobeyed and maltreated his parents but turned out 
to be a poor miserable wretch, unfit for any other soci- 
ety than the lowest dregs, and nearly always came to 
some bad end. 



-^298— 

The best thing for a young man to do, is to learn a 
trade and be content with, making an honest living, 
and be sure to let politics alone, for it has ruined a 
hundred whereit has ever benefited one, for I do assure 
you that but few men ever mado much money out of 
politics honestly, therefore if you wish to lead an hon- 
est and virtuous life, you had better stick to your trade 
and let politics take care of itself; it will lead you to 
the drinking saloons, where you will contract the hab- 
it of indulging in those drunken brawls that so often 
occur in those places, I therefore advise you to make 
this the rule of your life, nevep to touch or taste intox- 
icating drinks of any kind, for I do most positively 
assure you that you cannot receive any real benefit from 
it. Alcohol, according to the opinion of the most 
learned men that ever lived, in all its various forms 
and degrees of strength is a poison, and forever at war 
with man's nature. It is indigestable and cannot be 
converted into a nourishment, but is a highly inflama- 
ble stimulant, it is calculated to irritate the stomach, 
corrupt your blood, inflame your liver and weaken the 
brain, it is a witch to your senses, a devil to your soul, 
a beggar's companion, a wife's woe and children's sor- 
row, and I am very certain that the corner stone of 
the first still house that was ever built, was manufac- 
tured in hell. Its first production was a liquid fire, a 
material devil that has blasted not only the beauty of 
many of the fair women of our land, but the prospects 
of thousands of the best men the world ever knew. 
I therefore advise all young men to shun it as you 
would a viper. 

I advise you to not only let politics and strong drink 
alone, but to make up your minds never to play any 
game or games of chance, for it is calculated to lead 
you into bad company and bad associations, that may 
finally lead you to ruin. I have known hundreds of 
young men with a fair start in life, with a brilliant 
career before them entirely ruined by allowing them- 



—299— 

selves led into gambling and drinking by beginning in a 
small and apparently innocent way. It is the tem- 
perate use of liquor that leads to drunkeness and in- 
nocent gambling that leads to greater crimes. I once 
knew a man of eminence, who was a brilliant member 
of Congress, and stood high before the American peo- 
ple as one of the leading men of the nation, but in an 
evil hour was led astray, and in less than five years 
from the time that he stood high in Congress, he be- 
came a poor, miserable, degraded drunkard, and finally 
died in one of the Southern cities, far from home and 
friends, a beggar. Thus my young friends you will 
see that gambling and drinking, (for they are twin 
brothers,) will not only ruin the poor mechanic and 
laboring man, but it has ruined many of the brightest 
intellects that our country or the world ever produced. 
Don't let the example of some friend or neighbor 
of yours, who has always been a moderate drinker and 
never a drunkard, be the means of misleading you, 
although he has escaped the drunkards fate, you may 
not be as lucky as him, and before you are aware of 
it may fall a prey to its bewitching influences, I there- 
fore advise you to let them alone. With these few 
lines of advice to my young friends, I bid you farewell. 



311.77-2 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




011 464 415 8 



